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Texas texting and driving bill advances
Perry still says measure is government overreach
Updated: Tuesday, 05 Mar 2013, 3:13 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 05 Mar 2013, 3:13 PM CST
AUSTIN (AP) — A proposal to ban texting behind the wheel in Texas is making progress in the Legislature.
The House Transportation Committee voted 6-1 in favor of the bill on Tuesday. It moves to the full House for consideration. Texas has already banned any use of mobile devices by drivers under age 18.
Texting while driving is illegal in 39 states. Local ordinances ban the practice in cities including Austin, El Paso and San Antonio.
The new measure would extend the ban to all drivers statewide. Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, calls it "the bipartisan bill of the session." The bill is named for Alex Brown, a 17-year-old Texan who was killed in wreck while texting.
But Gov. Rick Perry vetoed a similar proposal in 2011. His views have not changed. He calls the idea "government micromanagement."
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