Gov. Walz signs cell phone "hands-free" bill into law

BY ANDREW WRIGHT

Gov. Tim Walz signed a cell phone "hands-free" bill into law Friday that forbids drivers from using their phones unless in hands-free mode, according to WCCO.

Gov. Walz signed the legislation while surrounded by families who lost loved ones because of distracted driving involving cell phones.

"I just feel the deepest apologies that it took this long for many of you,” Walz said.

According to the Star Tribune, Minnesota will be one of 16 states and the District of Columbia to implement legislation meant to curb distracted drivers from using phones.

According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, most of the states that adopt hands-free legislation see a 15 percent decrease in traffic deaths.

The efforts this year saw a stark contract to the efforts put in place four years ago. Rep. Scott Newman admitted the efforts by the families this year changed his mind about the legislation. Newman opposed the legislation when it was introduced four years ago, but became one of its chief sponsors this year.

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