Wesselhoft

Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore, plans to introduce legislature that would discourage cell phone use while driving.Wesselhoft said the number of accidents caused by inattentive drivers chatting on cell phones has skyrocketed, citing numbers reported by the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office listed an increase in cell phone-related vehicular accidents from 98 in 1998 to 802 in 2006, Wesselhoft said.
Wesselhoft's bill would call for a mandatory 20-day jail sentence and $1,000 in fines when an automobile accident contributed to cell phone use has causes bodily harm to the victim, Wesselhoft said.

When questioned about the severity of the bill, Wesselhoft said, "No, I do not think it's too harsh. We have to think about the victims out there. They're getting killed."

Two other provisions in the bill include a prohibition against school drivers using cell phones while transporting children, unless it's a verifiable emergency, and a prohibition against teenagers with a learning permit using cell phones while driving.

"They're just learning to drive a car," Wesselhoft said. "They don't need to be texting."Wesselhoft said although Oklahoma law forbids distractive driving, it is not enforced.

Wesselhoft said he hopes his bill will bring this issue to the forefront, but his track record has not been so forthcoming.

In 2005, Wesselhoft filed a bill that would have made "hands-free" cell phones in vehicles a requirement; however, the measure didn't make it out of committee hearings, Wesselhoft said.

Wesselhoft said that Oklahoma legislature tends to be reactive rather than proactive.

"Unfortunately, my colleagues react to tragedy," Wesselhoft said. "I'd rather be in the prevention side."