Get Schooled Governor signs texting law inspired by teen’s death
4:12 pm June 4, 2010, by Maureen Downey
Despite misgivings, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the texting bill named for a Morgan County teen Caleb Sorohan who died while texting and driving.
The signing of Caleb’s Law was a surprise and delight to the bill’s supporters, who made a last-ditch effort this week to get Perdue’s support. Many of those supporters were from Morgan County and included teens.
Caleb’s family met with lawmakers and the governor. Morgan County school board member Dave Belton was at the Capitol many times this session, both before the bill was passed and then over the last 10 days as the governor wavered on signing the bill.
Belton has written several blogs here at Get Schooled on the bill that you can find by searching his name. In his most recent, he noted:
The governor picked an odd battle to end his legislative career, picking a fight with a school-full of grieving teens.
“Caleb’s Law” was born last Christmas when an 18-year-old student accidently killed himself texting while driving.
Instead of hushing up their son’s mistake, the brave family went public, leading a campaign of dozens of Morgan County teens who lobbied legislators for months for a texting while driving law.
Their bill passed unanimously in the state Senate and won a 113-24 bipartisan margin in the House.
The slain teen’s mother only goal was that other mothers wouldn’t have to suffer the way she did.
Her solace was short-lived, however, when Gov. Sonny Perdue hinted he may veto the bill her son died to craft.
Laws change behavior.
The appeals of Belton and others worked, although Perdue still has his concerns and wants them addressed next year:
According to the AJC:
But the texting ban is likely to change. As Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the bills Friday, he said the texting part was unclear, and that legislators had promised to fix it next year.
Pointing to his own BlackBerry, Perdue noted that when a phone buzzes, the driver won’t know whether it’s from an incoming call or a text.
He added that it could lead to a rise in lawsuits and prosecutions. “As a society we don’t accept anything as an accident anymore,” he said. “It’s got to be someone’s fault. And I think we’re putting a law on the books that again make fault and make those kinds of civil actions even more prevalent.”
Here is the release from the Perdue camp:
Governor Sonny Perdue today signed House Bill 23. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Matt Ramsey, makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to use a cell phone while driving.
“We need to do everything possible to focus young drivers on the road ahead,” said Governor Perdue regarding HB 23. “I want to thank Rep. Ramsey for working hard on this bill.”
The Governor also signed Senate Bill 360 sponsored by Sen. Jack Murphy, which makes it illegal for all drivers to text while driving. Before signing the legislation the Governor expressed his continued concern with some provisions of the bill, but said he agreed to sign with the assurance that the bill sponsors were committed to addressing his concerns in legislation next year.
“Because of the sponsors’ assurances, I have decided to sign SB 360,” said Governor Perdue. “I hope that we will all commit to driving safely, free of distraction.”
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