SENATE PASSES BAN ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING

Following heated debate over whether the statutes’ provisions should be a primary or secondary offense, the Senate this week approved legislation barring motorists from sending or reading text messages while driving. With primary offense supporters contending the measures lacked a sufficient deterrent to ensure compliance, a lack one member equated to putting “perfume on a pig,” an effort to make a violation a primary offense—meaning law enforcement officials could stop a vehicle for that offense alone—failed on an 18-18 vote. The measures were passed on 31-6 votes with secondary offense supporters arguing Michigan motorists would obey the law regardless of the penalties provided. With the House having approved similar legislation last month, the only issue yet to be resolved is which package of bills will be sent to Governor Granholm for enactment.