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Abstract: 

The new year brought a plethora of new legislative proposals aimed at distracted and impaired driving. This update summarizes distracted driving initiatives in twenty-five states, and impaired driving legislation introduced in twenty-three states. Among the noteworthy measures, Colorado. H 1225, introduced on January 30, 2014, would prohibit a person 18 years-of-age or older, while operating a motor vehicle, from using a wireless telephone for the purpose of making or receiving a phone call unless the person uses a hands-free device. The law would only be enforced in school zones or construction zones or if the violation was the cause of an accident; in New York, Assembly bill 8589, recently amended in committee, would evaluate the safety of driving while wearing glasses capable of accessing the Internet and mobile technology; and in Alabama, S 141, introduced on January 14, 2014, would require the clerk of court to publish a notice of conviction, including a photograph, of a person convicted a second or subsequent time, within five years, for driving while under the influence.

Keywords: Distracted Driving; school zones; wireless communication devices; hands-free device; texting; Impaired Driving; Ignition interlock; previous driving while intoxicated offenses; license suspension and revocation; implied consent statute

Affiliations:  1: Supreme Court of Ohio Law Library.