A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate. The legislation by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval was inspired by the traffic deaths of a constituent’s child. Huval says it’s a bill designed to save lives.
Huval says, "This bill is a way to try to protect the families we have back home. They deserve to have one less thing that could possibly kill them, their children, or somebody that they know."
The bill received stiff opposition from Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton, who frequently clashed with Huval during her questioning.
Norton says, "You (Huval) choose to pick out cell phones, but you didn't say anything about eating, shaving, etc."
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says the bill is unnecessary nanny state legislation.
Ivey says, "Where do we stop with this type of legislation? At some point, people just need to be responsible."