Lawmakers try again on hands-free cellphone bill

The state legislature has been back and forth on the issue and got close on legislation two years ago before the measure died for lack of support in the North Carolina Senate.

Now, the lead sponsor on that House effort has moved to the Senate, where he filed the "Hands Free NC" bill in late January. It hasn't gotten a committee hearing, which is not a good sign for viability.

Leadership says there's too much division over the bill in the Senate's Republican majority.

"This bill has both support and opposition within the caucus," Pat Ryan, spokesman for Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, said in an email Thursday. "We generally try to reach consensus on questions before advancing proposed solutions."

Senate Bill 20, from Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Cherokee, would essentially make it illegal to drive with a cellphone in your hand.

The bill also says drivers could not drive while "supporting" a cellphone with another part of the body, while watching a video or movie, while communicating via video chat or while texting.

Hands-free usage generally would be allowed for adults but not for drivers under 18. They would be able to use their cellphone only for navigation, according to the bill.