HB 893

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the use of cellular telephones;
3providing a short title; prohibiting the use of a cellular
4telephone while operating a motor vehicle except when
5using a headset or hands-free device; providing
6exemptions; providing a penalty; providing for enforcement
7only as a secondary offense; providing an effective date.
8
9Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11     Section 1.  This act may be cited as "Heather's Law."
12     Section 2.  Cellular telephones.-
13     (1)  Except when using a headset as allowed in s. 316.304,
14Florida Statutes, or a hands-free device, a person may not
15operate a motor vehicle on the highways of this state while
16dialing or sending a telephone call or text message on a
17cellular telephone or while listening to or speaking on a
18cellular telephone. As used in this section, the term "cellular
19telephone" has the same meaning as in s. 817.4821, Florida
20Statutes.
21     (2)  This section does not prohibit the use of a cellular
22telephone for safety or law enforcement purposes if the use is
23approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
24     (3)  A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic
25infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in
26chapter 318, Florida Statutes. However, this section may be
27enforced by a state or local law enforcement agency only as a
28secondary action when the operator of a motor vehicle has been
29detained for a suspected violation of chapter 316, chapter 320,
30or chapter 322, Florida Statutes.
31     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.