RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Legislature is considering a bill that would ban in-car cell phone use, unless the driver has a hands-free device.

Rep. Paul Luebke, D-Durham is one of three sponsors of the Limit Handheld Phone Use While Driving Bill. Sponsors of the bill claim it is too dangerous to drive with one hand on the wheel and the other on the phone.

"We've all seen people on I-40 going 65-70 miles an hour, whipping here and whipping there like that and they're just keeping that phone conversation going," Leubke said. "You cannot really drive safely and hold a cell phone in your hand. Basically when you do that, you've only got one hand for the wheel and it's just not safe."

"The only complaint I have is that people use a cell phone while they're driving. I think there should be some rule that you've got to stop over to the side, but I'm not for completely banning them out of cars," motorist Chuck Grad.

A similar bill died in the Legislature two years ago. Luebke said he patterned the bill after similar legislation that passed in New York. The fine would be $25 and no driver's license points.

arch 13, 2003: