Hands-Free is national topic of concern, not just in Commonwealth
Legislature's failure to find compromise makes national and local headlines
Massachusetts lawmakers failure to find compromise on Hands-Free language before breaking for August recess makes local and national news. On August 1, the Massachusetts legislature broke for August recess without passing Hands-Free, despite being in closed-door Conference Committee since June 20. Hands-Free passed unanimously in the MA Senate in June 40 - 0. The Massachusetts House voted 155-2 in May. Both the Massachusetts Senate President Karen E. Spilka and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo support Hands-Free. The stall out has infuriated Hands-Free supporters and families of victims in the Commonwealth and across the country. Jennifer Smith, President of StopDistractions.org, a national advocacy group who works with victims' families across the nation to end the devastating effects of distracted driving tragedies, was contacted by Boston press to make a statement on the Commonwealth's stall out and the traction Hands-Free is gaining across the United States.
"Not passing Hands-Free is an infringement on the rights of all people who live or travel through Massachusetts - our rights to travel safely, rights for our children to be able to play without worry, our rights as parents to know that when our loved ones ride in a car, on a school bus or in any moving vehicle - or even on a bike - they are protected by the laws of Massachusetts," Smith adds. Hands-Free supporters are mobilizing for a Press Conference on Beacon Hill in September to impress upon MA Legislators that Hands-Free has broad support among Massachusetts voters and advocates, including the Commonwealth's health, education and business communities, and that they will keep up the fight until it is illegal to drive while holding a device in Massachusetts.
Local and national press coverage from yesterday's Hands-Free stall out in Massachusetts include but is not limited to the following:
Boston Globe - As hand-held cellphone ban stalls, activists weigh ballot question
WBZ - Channel 5 - ABC Boston - Distracted driving bill hung up heading into recess
WCVB - CBS Boston - Distracted Driving Bill Hung Up Heading into Recess
Boston.com - Massachusetts legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business
1420 WBSM - Montigny frustrated as distracted driving bill stalls in committee
Western Mass News - Legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business
Midland Daily News - Legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business
Miami Herald - Legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business
Washington Times - Legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business
Chicago Tribune - Legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business
Charlotte Observer - Legislature enters summer recess with unfinished business