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SALT LAKE CITY -- Inspired by the very group of people it would restrict, a new bill is before the Utah Legislature that would ban teenagers from talking on the phone while driving.
"Some of their friends had been in car accidents talking on cell phones, (or) that they'd known others that were not very good drivers, and they were somewhat afraid to get in the cars with those folks," said Senator Ross Romero, who sponsored the bill.
The bill only prohibits teenagers under eighteen from operating a vehicle and using a cell phone. If the bill is made into law and a new driver does break it, the consequence would be a $50 fine and the violation would not stay on their permanent record.
It's really about saying, ‘this is against the law, it makes good policy… you're just learning how to drive.'
–- Ross Romero
"It's really about saying, ‘this is against the law, it makes good policy… you're just learning how to drive,' " Romero said.
The bill leaves room for two exceptions: if the teen was on the phone with their parents or making an emergency call.
Still, while many teens may agree that it is a practice of safe driving, not all want it to become the law.
"I think it's a smart idea, because there's so many accidents because of the cell phone thing, but I don't think government should go as far as to make a law against it," said 16-year-old Jacob Cope.
In the past, Romero proposed a bill that would ban cell phones for all drivers, but lacked support in the committee. Romero says the goal with the current bill would be mainly to educate drivers and hopefully make the roads safer. The transportation committee will take a look at the bill Friday.
