The New Indiana Cell Phone Law Rumor
Monday July 21, 2008
When my mom informed me this weekend that Indiana had recently passed a law that prohibits the use of a cell phone while driving, I was mostly shocked that I hadn't heard anything about it. How is it that a person who heavily monitors the news about Kentuckiana miss something so important? This morning, after a little investigation, I found the source of this rumor: an email forward.
House Bill State of Indiana
Citations Affected: IC-9-13-2; IC 9-21-22.
Synopsis: Hand held mobile telephone use. Makes it a Class D infraction to operate a motor vehicle while using a hand held mobile telephone. Exempts: (1) a person who uses a mobile telephone in an emergency situation; (2) the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle; (3) the operator of a medical services vehicle; and (4) a volunteer firefighter or certain emergency services professionals en route to the scene of an emergency.
Effective: July 1, 2008
Well, it seems legitimate, right? There's nothing about it on Snopes, but the Courier-Journal hasn't reported anything either. So, can you legally talk on your cell phone while driving in Indiana or not?
The truth is that Indiana did not pass a law that prohibits the use of a cell phone while driving. However, they did introduce a bill that, if passed, might prohibit the use of cell phones without hands-free devices by drivers who are less than 18 years old. Here is the actual text of the bill from the official State of Indiana website:
Synopsis: Cell phone use while driving. Makes it a Class D infraction for a person less than 18 years of age to operate a motor vehicle while using a hand held mobile telephone. Exempts: (1) a person who uses a mobile telephone in an emergency situation; (2) the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle; (3) the operator of a medical services vehicle; and (4) a volunteer firefighter and certain emergency services professionals en route to the scene of an emergency.
House Bill State of Indiana
Citations Affected: IC-9-13-2; IC 9-21-22.
Synopsis: Hand held mobile telephone use. Makes it a Class D infraction to operate a motor vehicle while using a hand held mobile telephone. Exempts: (1) a person who uses a mobile telephone in an emergency situation; (2) the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle; (3) the operator of a medical services vehicle; and (4) a volunteer firefighter or certain emergency services professionals en route to the scene of an emergency.
Effective: July 1, 2008
Well, it seems legitimate, right? There's nothing about it on Snopes, but the Courier-Journal hasn't reported anything either. So, can you legally talk on your cell phone while driving in Indiana or not?
The truth is that Indiana did not pass a law that prohibits the use of a cell phone while driving. However, they did introduce a bill that, if passed, might prohibit the use of cell phones without hands-free devices by drivers who are less than 18 years old. Here is the actual text of the bill from the official State of Indiana website:
Synopsis: Cell phone use while driving. Makes it a Class D infraction for a person less than 18 years of age to operate a motor vehicle while using a hand held mobile telephone. Exempts: (1) a person who uses a mobile telephone in an emergency situation; (2) the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle; (3) the operator of a medical services vehicle; and (4) a volunteer firefighter and certain emergency services professionals en route to the scene of an emergency.
Comments
Keep in mind this issue is being discussed in a study committee this summer, so it may still become a law in the future.
The main page for the bill you referenced can be seen here: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2008&session=1&request=getBill&docno=119
For future reference, you can tell if a bill passed by clicking on the “Action List,” anything that was referred to a committee and never voted on or signed by the governor, etc. never passed.
Thanks for the info FYI!