Texas lawmakers are taking a fresh look at a statewide ban on texting while driving, but the Governor may not be budging.
Members of the House Transportation Committee heard testimony today from people whose relatives were killed in crashes blamed on use of mobile phones.
There are concerns about enforcement.
A veteran Houston Police officer says he has no trouble seeing when someone is texting behind the wheel, but as it is now, he has to wait for the driver to do something more dangerous before he can make a stop.
Officer Paul LaSalle believes a statewide texting ban would save lives.
“It would give us the ability to make this a prohibited act that we could cite them for, and then we could stop them before they have an opportunity to commit a more egregious moving violation that could put somebody at risk.”
Texting while driving is already illegal in Austin.
Texas lawmakers passed a statewide ban in 2011.
Governor Rick Perry vetoed that , calling it a case of government "overreach."
His office indicated on Tuesday that his opinion has not changed.
