Hey! You use a cell phone in Oregon?
Then you need to be paying attention to HB2597. https://goo.gl/JqzDSg
It just passed the OR Senate and this is what it does:
1. Makes it illegal to *hold* your phone (or any electronic device) while driving. This includes handing it to someone to answer, or to your kid to play a game, or picking it up if it falls off the floor. Anything.;
2. Makes it illegal to USE a phone (or any electronic device) FOR ANY PURPOSE while driving. Navigation. Music. Handsfree talking. Dashcam. A paperweight? Nothing.
3. Makes *affirmative defense* that you used handsfree mode. That means a cop can give you a ticket if you’re either holding or using a phone (or MEB) – even in handsfree mode – and you have to prove in court that you used handsfree. Got a headset? Tell it to the judge;
4. Makes 3rd offense in 10 years a CRIME. You could go to jail for 6 months. Crime could never be removed from your record.
This law is bad and it is easily sailing through the OR Leg. Tomorrow may be your last chance to stop it when the House has to approve the Senate’s changes.
Find your legislator here: https://goo.gl/tHGZfF
Call your Rep tomorrow and tell them to vote no.