Latest news with #HB519
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Law to prohibit use of cell phones while driving sent to Governor's desk
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—House Bill 519 has been sent to Governor Jeff Landry's desk. It would prohibit the use of a cell phone or telecommunication device while operating a vehicle. Currently, texting while driving is against the law. However, HB519, introduced by State Representative Brian Glorioso, will extend the law to prohibit more cell phone-related activities. DWI Checkpoint scheduled for drivers in Shreveport HB519 states that it would be illegal to: Engage in a call, whether talking or listening Write, send, or read a text message, email, or any other message Access, read, or post to a social networking site Access, view, post, edit, or create a video or photograph Access, read, view, compose, or browse any data from an application or other media Hold or physically support a device in either or both hands Darron Kerry, a Patrolman First Class with the Bossier Police Traffic Division, says the proposed law will help deter distracted driving and taking one's eyes off the road to look at a cell phone. 'Let's say you're doing 45 miles an hour. 45 miles an hour is not a high speed, but in that two or three second, doing 45 miles an hour, you have covered anywhere from 150 to 200 feet on the road. And you can imagine what that distance is if you're doing interstate speeds and stuff like that,' said Kerry. He adds that many crashes and accidents that the Bossier Police Department sees involve cell phone use. 'Looking at the phone, watching TV, depending on what type of vehicle they're driving you know a lot of these vehicles they'll stay in the lane for them so they really don't even, don't have to pay attention the way they look at it, is they don't have to pay attention to the road, and it's a big big safety issue,' said Kerry. Exceptions to the proposed law include use of a cell phone or telecommunication device if a vehicle is autonomous, if the vehicle is lawfully stationary or stopped, and if the device is used hands-free with Bluetooth or an attachment. You're considered a 'distracted driver' if you do this Kerry clarifies that being at a stop sign or a red light does not qualify as being lawfully stationary. 'You're sitting at a red light, you say Oh, I got time to check my phone. Well, the light turns green, you stay sitting at the light, the person behind you is looking at their phone, and they run into the back of you. As long as you are physically in control of that vehicle, you cannot have your cell phone in your hand,' said Kerry. Motorists would be allowed to use a cell phone when dialing 9-1-1 to report a traffic collision, medical emergency, or serious road hazard, or to report a situation in which they believe an individual is in jeopardy of serious injury or death. 'The consequences can all be the same whether you're a drunk driver or you're a distracted driver. People get killed by drunk drivers and people get killed by using a cell phone,' said Kerry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Louisiana Senate approves bill expanding ‘hands-free' driving
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Senate approved a bill that expands upon current state law that prevents texting and driving. The current law outlaws texting while driving, but HB 519, introduced by State Rep. Brian Glorioso, would also make it illegal to post or scroll through social media while driving. The bill would also outlaw accessing, posting, or creating a video or photograph while behind the wheel. The bill does make an exception for contacting law enforcement to report a crash, medical emergency, or to report a crime in progress. The Louisiana House of Representatives approved the bill in May. The bill now returns to the House for concurrence before making its way to the Governor. Five arrested in Baton Rouge shooting that killed man on S. Harrell's Ferry Road Hot Wheels custom T-Bird blends 1967 muscle with pop art firepower Speaker Johnson: Trump 'not delighted' at Musk '180' on megabill Baton Rouge restaurants with steak on the menu for Father's Day Woman dies from brain-eating amoeba after using tap water to clear sinuses: CDC Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OBGYN: My patients' health and wellbeing will be endangered by NC House bill
A teenage girl examines a pregnancy test. (Photo: Connect Images) Earlier this month, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 519, also known as the 'Parents' Medical Bill of Rights.' As a board certified OBGYN who treats minors, I am deeply concerned about the implications of this bill. This legislation, which aims to revise the laws regarding minors' consent to medical treatment and parental access to medical records, poses significant risks to the health and wellbeing of patients across the state. HB 519 will impede the trust young patients have in their medical providers and therefore undermine the confidentiality of their care. Currently, North Carolina law allows minors to consent to treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, substance abuse, and mental health issues without parental involvement. This provision is crucial for ensuring that young patients feel safe seeking medical help without fear of judgment or repercussions from their parents. By mandating parental consent for these sensitive treatments, the bill risks deterring minors from seeking necessary medical care. This could lead to untreated STIs (which can lead to future infertility), unaddressed mental health issues, and unintended pregnancies, all of which have serious long-term consequences for our young North Carolinians' health and wellbeing. The trust between patients and healthcare providers is foundational to effective medical care. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of this trust, particularly for minors who may be navigating complex and sensitive health issues. HB 519 threatens to erode this trust by introducing parental oversight into the patient-provider relationship. Healthcare providers may find themselves in difficult positions, having to balance the legal requirements of HB 519 with our ethical duty to protect patient confidentiality. Advocates for HB 519 argue that the exclusion of parental consent in our current laws leaves children to navigate serious medical situations alone. This perspective completely ignores the role that healthcare providers like myself play in the navigation of these issues. We do not leave our young patients 'alone' to navigate their medical decisions, but instead provide thoughtful guidance, including often suggesting the involvement of their parent(s) in their medical care. Unfortunately, for some of my young patients, their medical team members are the only trusted adults in their lives, and if they are required to obtain parental consent to seek treatment, they simply will not do so. House Bill 519, while ostensibly aimed at empowering parents, poses significant risks to the health and wellbeing of minors in North Carolina. By undermining confidentiality, creating barriers to mental health and reproductive care, and hindering substance abuse treatment, the bill jeopardizes the autonomy and safety of young patients. As a physician who treats young patients, I urge the lawmakers to reconsider the implications of HB 519 and prioritize the health and rights of minors in our state.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mom pushes for a statewide ban on texting while driving in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Suzanne Salter has spent the last decade telling her daughter's story, over and over again, in hopes of saving lives. 'Our daughter was only 31 years old, and she was actually just driving to pick up some sandwiches about two miles away,' Salter said. 'She was stopped to make a left-hand turn. This was the day after Christmas, and while she was stopped, blinker on, there was a car with a young driver that hit her from behind.' Salter said it was discovered that the driver had been texting at the time of the crash. 'There was a long list of texts, actually,' she said. 'And when she had to write her written report that was attached to the police report, she said that she didn't know she was driving in the left lane and didn't know what she had hit. Did not know what she hit until she heard a thump.' Salter has testified repeatedly before the Louisiana Legislature, sharing her daughter's story in hopes lawmakers will pass a law banning handheld phone use while driving, not just texting in school zones, which is currently illegal in Louisiana. Louisiana law currently bans texting in school zones, but it lacks a comprehensive statewide ban. More than 30 states already have stronger laws on the books. Salter said the legislation has failed several times, even after making it through committee. 'When we get to the floor, they are concerned about profiling,' she said. She said some lawmakers have said banning handheld phone use would interfere with their ability to work while driving. 'I live up north, and I'm coming down here, and I have to do some work, and so I need my phone,' Salter recalled hearing. Salter emphasized that the proposed law, HB 519, does not ban talking on the phone using Bluetooth. 'All you got to do is press a little button, right? Because this bill is not saying that you can't speak on it… just be holding it, staring at it,' she said. Salter's years of advocacy have earned the support of top state leaders. Despite years of heartbreak, she keeps showing up. Mom pushes for a statewide ban on texting while driving in Louisiana St. Gabriel police investigate shooting that left one hurt Disney World announces free dining perk for kids in 2026: How it works WATCH: Truck hauling oil bursts into flames on Indiana highway Judge orders suspect in Baton Rouge teen's death held until grand jury decision Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
