Local Support Grows for Hands-Free Cellphone Bill
Local residents are reacting to a proposal that would make it illegal in Minnesota to talk on a phone in your hand while driving. There are two bills at the state Capitol pushing for a “hands-free” law.
For some drivers, going hands free is a good idea hands down.
“No problem with it,” said Debra Sutton of Brooklyn Center. “I think it’s a great idea. Why wouldn’t they do that earlier? I don’t know.”
“I’ve read that it’s just as bad as drunk driving,” said Lowell Kiefer of New Hope. “So we need to have some sort of a law.”
“My daughter’s a tow-truck driver and I’ve rode with her and I’ve seen the results in cars,” said Rhonda Armstrong of Brooklyn Center, who also supports a hands-free law. “It’s ugly.”
Brooklyn Center’s Carnesia Graham also supports the efforts. For her, having such a law is personal.
“Actually I was an example of that,” Graham said. “On my phone, not paying attention and caused a big accident. Car actually went off the road.”
So far 15 states are hands free and Minnesota could be next because, so far, there is no opposition to the bill in St. Paul. If hands free does becomes law, drivers would be required to use Bluetooth or a single earbud if they want to speak on the phone. A first offense would result in a $50 fine and the second would cost $225.
