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Hands-free driving bill moves through the Senate

Bill would allow drivers to use their phones while driving but it must be through Bluetooth or voice recognition.

BOISE - Legislation is moving through the Idaho Senate to curb a deadly uptick in traffic accidents.

It’s a distracted driving bill that would repeal and replace Idaho’s current law that bans texting while driving.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Marv Hagedorn, says he's heard from police that the current legislation is unenforceable.

He says that's because it doesn't specifically include using apps, maps or even streaming TV while driving.

Hagedorn's legislation would change the law so people can still use their phones while driving but it must be through Bluetooth or voice recognition.

"In the past when we were working on texting and driving bills, we failed to recognize in the bill that the technology was going to increase, that we were going to do more than just talking on our phones and texting," says Hagedorn.

Hagedorn says in this past year, 65 Idahoans died as a direct result from being in a wreck where at least one driver was on their phone.

The senator says he has been working on an update to the state's current texting and driving law for more than a year and has been working closely with police.

If passed, the first two offenses would be punishable by a $100 fine, and the third $250.

This bill cleared a Senate panel with an eight to one vote, the only no vote cast by Republican Sen. Mark Harris of Soda Springs.

The legislation now heads to the Senate floor.

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