Bill Text: MI SB0239 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Traffic control: violations; penalties for operating a vehicle while sending or receiving a message on an electronic wireless device; enhance. Amends sec. 602b of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.602b). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0240'23, SB 0241'23
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-23 - Referred To Committee On Civil Rights, Judiciary, And Public Safety [SB0239 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2023-SB0239-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL NO. 239
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 602b (MCL 257.602b), as amended by 2016 PA 332.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 602b. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person an individual shall not read, manually type, or send a text message on a wireless 2-way communication hold or use a mobile electronic device that is located in the person's hand or in the person's lap, including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service, while operating a motor vehicle, that is moving on a highway or street in this state. As used in this subsection, a wireless 2-way communication device does not include a global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the motor vehicle. This subsection does not apply to a person operating including, but not limited to, a commercial vehicle or school bus.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not read, manually type, or send a text message on a wireless 2-way communication device that is located in the person's hand or in the person's lap, including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service, while operating a commercial motor vehicle or a school bus on a highway or street in this state. As used in this subsection, a wireless 2-way communication device does not include a global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the commercial motor vehicle or school bus.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not use a hand-held mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication while operating a commercial motor vehicle or a school bus on a highway, including while temporarily stationary due to traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays. This subsection does not apply if the operator of the commercial vehicle or school bus has moved the vehicle to the side of, or off, a highway and has stopped in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary. As used in this subsection, "mobile telephone" does not include a 2-way radio service or citizens band radio service. As used in this subsection, "use a hand-held mobile telephone" means 1 or more of the following:
(a) Using at least 1 hand to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication.
(b) Dialing or answering a mobile telephone by pressing more than a single button.
(c) Reaching for a mobile telephone in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver so that he or she is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt that is installed as required by 49 CFR 393.93 and adjusted in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's instructions.
(4) Subsections (1), (2), and (3) do not apply to an individual who is using a device described in subsection (1) or (3) to do any of the following:
(a) Report a traffic accident, medical emergency, or serious road hazard.
(b) Report a situation in which the person believes his or her personal safety is in jeopardy.
(c) Report or avert the perpetration or potential perpetration of a criminal act against the individual or another person.
(d) Carry out official duties as a police officer, law enforcement official, member of a paid or volunteer fire department, or operator of an emergency vehicle.
(e) Operate or program the operation of an automated motor vehicle while testing or operating the automated motor vehicle without a human operator.
(5) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person using an on-demand automated motor vehicle network.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following situations:
(a) The use of a mobile electronic device by a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, operator of an authorized emergency vehicle, or similarly engaged paid or volunteer public safety first responder during the performance of that individual's official duties, or a public utility employee or contractor acting within the scope of that individual's employment when responding to a public utility emergency.
(b) The use of a mobile electronic device for emergency purposes, including calling or texting a 9-1-1 system, or making an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity to report to appropriate authorities any of the following:
(i) A fire, traffic accident, serious road hazard, or medical or hazardous materials emergency.
(ii) An operator of another motor vehicle who is driving in a reckless or otherwise unsafe manner or who appears to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
(iii) A crime being committed.
(c) The use of a global positioning or navigation feature of a mobile electronic device if information is not entered by hand into the global positioning or navigation system feature of the mobile electronic device.
(d) The use of a mobile electronic device in a voice-operated or hands-free mode if the operator of the motor vehicle does not use the operator's hands to operate the device, except for either of the following:
(i) Using a single button press, tap, or swipe to activate or deactivate a feature or function of the mobile electronic device or to select a telephone number or name.
(ii) Using a mobile electronic device that is integrated into a motor vehicle and utilizes the user interfaces that are permanently installed into the motor vehicle.
(e) The use of a mobile electronic device used for the sole purpose of continuously recording or broadcasting video inside or outside of a motor vehicle.
(3) (6) An Except as provided in subsection (4), an individual who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and shall must be ordered to pay a civil fine as follows:do the following:
(a) For a first violation, pay a $100.00 civil fine or perform 16 hours of community service, or both.
(b) For a second or subsequent violation, $200.00.pay a $250.00 civil fine or perform 24 hours of community service, or both.
(4) If an individual is involved in an accident when the individual violates this section, any civil fine ordered must be double the amount that would otherwise be ordered under subsection (3), and a police officer investigating the accident shall indicate in a written accident report that the individual was using a mobile electronic device at the time of the accident.
(5) (7) This section supersedes all local ordinances regulating the use of a communications mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle in motion on a highway or street, except that a unit of local government may adopt an ordinance or enforce an existing ordinance substantially corresponding to this section.
(6) A court may order the secretary of state to suspend an individual's driver license under section 319 for not more than 90 days if the individual is responsible for 3 or more civil infractions under this section within a 3-year period.
(7) A police officer enforcing this section may treat a violation of this section as the primary or sole reason for issuing a citation to a driver. A police officer shall not search a motor vehicle or the driver or passenger in the motor vehicle solely because of a violation of this section.
(8) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(a) A level 3, 4, or 5 automated driving system, as described in "J3016: Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles", April 2021 edition, published by SAE International, or an automated vehicle equipped with an automated driving system as described in this subdivision, during testing or operation with the automated driving system engaged.
(b) Viewing or using in a hands-free manner a device mounted in a vehicle for displaying information related to testing or operating an automated driving system or automated technology.
(c) Operating, or programming the operation of, an automated motor vehicle while testing or operating the automated motor vehicle without a human operator while the automated driving system is engaged.
(9) As used in this section:
(a) "Hold" means to physically support with any part of the hands, arms, or shoulders.
(b) "Mobile electronic device" means an electronic device that is not permanently installed in a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a device capable of text messaging, voice communication, entertainment, navigation, accessing the internet, or producing email. Mobile electronic device does not include either of the following:
(i) A radio designed for the Citizens Band Service or the Amateur Radio Service of the Federal Communications Commission or a commercial 2-way radio communications device or equipment permanently installed in a motor vehicle.
(ii) A medical device that is designed to be worn, including, but not limited to, an insulin pump.
(c) "Operate" means to drive or assume physical control of a motor vehicle on a public way, street, road, or highway, including operation while temporarily stationary because of traffic, road conditions, a traffic light, or a stop sign. Operate does not include a motor vehicle that is lawfully parked.
(d) "Social networking site" means any web-based service that allows individuals to construct a profile within a founded system and communicate with other users of the site for social or amusement purposes.
(e) "Use a mobile electronic device" means using a mobile electronic device to do any task, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(i) Sending or receiving a telephone call.
(ii) Sending, receiving, or reading a text message.
(iii) Viewing, recording, or transmitting a video.
(iv) Accessing, reading, or posting to a social networking site.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 180 days after the date it is enacted into law.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 102nd Legislature are enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No. 240.
(b) Senate Bill No. 241.
