OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6410 (as amended by House "A" and "B")*

AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF HAND-HELD MOBILE TELEPHONES BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.

SUMMARY:

This bill adds U. S. armed forces members operating military vehicles to the list of people exempt, while performing their official job duties, from the ban on talking on a hand-held cellular telephone or using a mobile electronic device while driving on a highway. The other exempt people are peace officers, firefighters, and ambulance or authorized emergency vehicle drivers.

*House Amendment “A” adopts by reference the existing definition of armed forces in CGS § 27-103.

*House Amendment “B” limits the armed forces exemption to cases in which the member is operating a military vehicle.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage

BACKGROUND

Armed Forces

By law, the “armed forces” means the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force and any reserve component of these branches, including the Connecticut National Guard performing duty under Title 32 of federal law (CGS § 27-103).

Cell Phone Use

A driver at least age 18 may use a hand-held cellular phone, regardless of the prohibition, solely to communicate about an emergency with an emergency response operator, hospital, physician's office or health clinic, ambulance company, or fire or police department. School bus drivers may use hand-held cell phones under the same circumstances and also to place emergency calls to school officials.

Authorized Emergency Vehicles

By law, an “authorized emergency vehicle” is a (1) fire department vehicle, (2) police vehicle, or (3) public service company or municipal department ambulance or emergency vehicle designated or authorized for use as an emergency vehicle by the motor vehicle commissioner (CGS § 14-1(a)).

Mobile Electronic Device

The law defines a “mobile electronic device” as any hand-held or portable electronic equipment capable of providing data communication between two or more people. It includes text messaging or paging devices, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, video game equipment, digital video disk, and equipment that takes or transmits digital photographs. It does not include audio equipment or equipment installed in the vehicle to provide (1) navigation, emergency, or other aid to the driver or (2) video entertainment to rear-seat passengers.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Select Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Joint Favorable Change of Reference

Transportation Committee

Joint Favorable