A new bill known as the “Hands-Free Driving Act” is making its way through the South Carolina legislature, aiming to ban drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. The bill, which recently passed in the state House of Representatives with an 85-25 vote, extends the current ban on texting while driving to include any physical phone use. However, drivers will still be allowed to use Bluetooth or other hands-free technology to make calls or send messages.
The bill, pushed by Rep. Bill Taylor, aims to improve road safety by reducing distractions caused by phone use while driving. Failure to comply with the law could result in fines of $100 for a first offense and $200 for a second. Additionally, an amendment was added to prevent violations from being reported to insurance companies, preventing points on drivers’ licenses.
With the threat of losing federal funding looming, the bill is gaining traction as it moves to a final reading in the House before heading to the Senate for further consideration. Amendments aimed at establishing a grace period and requiring probable cause for stops were also added to the legislation.
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