Two South Florida lawmakers tried and failed to get the Legislature to pass restrictions on the use of cellphones while driving in the session that ended last Friday.
Rep. Ari Porth, D-Broward, co-sponsored a bill to making texting illegal behind the wheel, but the bill didn't get out of committee.
The same was true with another bill sponsored by Rep. John Patrick Julien, D-North Miami Beach, which would have allowed police to note on moving violation tickets that the driver was using a cellphone at the time.
What happened when his bill was introduced? Local 10 asked Julien.
“Absolutely nothing,” he said.
Julien explained that several lawmakers told him they use their phones to conduct business while driving to and from the state Capitol and wouldn’t support legislation making it illegal.
"They didn't want anything that would adversely affect them," Julien said.
Also on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Broward, attended a distracted driving simulation at Jupiter High School. Students using a simulator learned firsthand the dangers of texting while driving -- but without causing accidents.
"The last year where figures are available," West said, "5,600 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were involved in fatalities on our highway systems. That's got to stop."
West has introduced the Safe Teen and Novice Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, which would restrict young drivers from using cellphones behind the wheel or driving at night until they're 18.