Hands-free driving bill set aside in North Carolina

A multi-year effort to rein in distracted driving falls short again, with Senate Republicans blocking movement.

Posted 7:15 p.m. May 10, 2021 — Updated 7:40 p.m. May 10, 2021

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — A pitch to make it illegal to hold a cellphone while driving in North Carolina won't be heard this year in the state Senate, likely dooming the measure for the year.

The multi-year effort to pass such a law has long found a stumbling block in the Senate, where some Republican lawmakers see the bill as too intrusive. Senate Bill 20 was this year's attempt, and a bill co-sponsor said Monday that he's been told the measure won't get a committee hearing.

That's a key early step to becoming law.

"I'm disappointed," said Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett.

Some 25 states have a law against driving with a cellphone in your hand. North Carolina has a texting ban for all drivers and a cellphone ban for teenage drivers, but this bill essentially would have made it illegal for anyone to talk on a cellphone while driving if they were holding the phone in their hand.

Hands-free usage generally would have been allowed for adults, but not for drivers under 18, except for navigation.

Burgin said he plans to try again on the bill in coming years.

"This is a necessary bill," he said. "It's something that's getting worse as young people are more and more tied to their phones."

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