“It is the responsibility of the driver to concentrate on the road,” said Youth Sen. Alana May Leon Guerrero, the principal sponsor of the still unnumbered bill.
Youth Congress bills, once passed, are submitted to the Legislature for its consideration.
Leon Guerrero said drivers using cell phones while operating a moving vehicle should use a headset or hand-free cell phone unit, or to pull up on the side of the road when placing or taking the call.
She urged manufacturers and retailers of cell phones to be flexible in partnership with each other, including the business enterprises that currently provide, sell, or distribute headsets or hand-free cell phone units.
The bill states that violators should be fined by not less than $50 and not more than $250 for the first offense and $350 and not more than $500 for the second offense.
When the violation caused bodily injury, the driver upon conviction is additionally penalized by a fine of not less than $300 and not more than $500.
The Department of Public Safety is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the intent and provisions of this Act, the bill stated.
