Representative Don Humason



SAFE DRIVER BILL Westfield Evening News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. June 26, 2010 In what has become fairly rare on Beacon Hill lately, the House of Representatives met in formal sessions two days in a row. As time ticks down to the July 1 start of the new fiscal year and the July 31 end of formal sessions under joint House and Senate rules, things are finally beginning to happen in the halls of the State House. This week the Safe Driver Bill Conference Committee released our report to the full House and Senate containing language compromised from the two different versions of the bill previously passed. The report was accepted by the House 150-1 and by the Senate 37-0. The bill now goes to the Governor. The bill bans texting while operating a motor vehicle for drivers of all ages. It continues to allow the use of cell phones while driving, except by Junior Operators (those under 18 years of age). It contains no age-based testing other than a requirement starting at age 75 to take a vision test in person at the Registry every five years. The bill targets bad drivers of any age who rack up three or more surchargeable offenses in a 24 month period. They will be subject to examination by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to determine their capacity for driving safely. If health care personnel or law enforcement have cause to believe a motorist of any age is not physically or medically capable of driving safely they may report their opinion to the RMV for medical evaluation. They may not be sued for reporting, or for failure to report. Operators of public transportation (like buses or subways) will be prohibited from using any cell phones or hand-held electronic devices. The legislation protects the taxpayer by prohibiting the RMV from imposing a higher fee for transactions conducted in person at a RMV branch than those fees charged on the RMV website. There will also be a public awareness campaign on the dangers of distracted driving conducted by the RMV and the Governors Highway Safety Bureau. Currently 8 states and the District of Columbia prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones. 19 states and DC prohibit school bus drivers from using cell phones. 27 states and DC prohibit Junior Operators from using cell phones. 28 states and DC prohibit text messaging while driving for all drivers. Below are excerpts of the comments I offered on the House floor during House debate on accepting the Safe Driver Bill Conference Committee report Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Conference Committee Report on the Safe Driver’s Bill. The Safe Driver Conference Committee was at work for almost 105 days on crafting an acceptable and appropriate compromise between the House and Senate versions of this important and long overdue bill. Yesterday, the Conference Committee released our report and filed the legislation in the House Clerk’s office. It was unanimously agreed upon by all six of us on the committee. I would like to thank my fellow conferees. We met numerous times and every member was involved in the process. I would especially like to thank my friend, the gentleman from Chicopee, the Chairman of the Transportation Committee, Joe Wagner. Although we have often debated on opposite sides of issues in the past, it was a pleasure to work alongside the gentleman in this instance. He displayed a remarkable knowledge of the many facets of this complicated, complex, and controversial issue. Western Massachusetts was well represented on this Conference Committee. I would like to thank my friend, the Minority Leader, the gentleman from North Reading, Brad Jones, for appointing me to this committee. As a Republican member of the House I have been witness many times to attempts on the part of the majority party to marginalize the input and contributions of the members of my caucus. I am happy to say that that did not occur during this conference process. I found it to be very open and inclusive and I believe every member was able to make positive contributions. As I said at the press conference yesterday, safe driving is not a partisan issue. All motorists and all legislators, be they Republicans or Democrats, want the Commonwealth’s roads to be as safe as possible. I have often said that we, as legislators, cannot legislate common sense, but we can pass laws that, if followed, will make our roads safer. Comedian Ron White puts it a little more harshly, saying, “You can’t fix stupid.” But I believe it is stupid to try to text while driving. I drive over 100 miles each way from Westfield to the State House. Along the Massachusetts Turnpike I have seen almost every kind of example of distracted driving. My hope is the attention that comes from the passage of this legislation today will help raise our constituents’ awareness of the issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. * Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News.** Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.State.MA.US Website: www.DonHumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

SAFE DRIVER BILL

Westfield Evening News column
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
June 26, 2010

In what has become fairly rare on Beacon Hill lately, the House of Representatives met in formal sessions two days in a row. As time ticks down to the July 1 start of the new fiscal year and the July 31 end of formal sessions under joint House and Senate rules, things are finally beginning to happen in the halls of the State House.

This week the Safe Driver Bill Conference Committee released our report to the full House and Senate containing language compromised from the two different versions of the bill previously passed. The report was accepted by the House 150-1 and by the Senate 37-0. The bill now goes to the Governor.

The bill bans texting while operating a motor vehicle for drivers of all ages.

It continues to allow the use of cell phones while driving, except by Junior Operators (those under 18 years of age).

It contains no age-based testing other than a requirement starting at age 75 to take a vision test in person at the Registry every five years.

The bill targets bad drivers of any age who rack up three or more surchargeable offenses in a 24 month period. They will be subject to examination by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to determine their capacity for driving safely.

If health care personnel or law enforcement have cause to believe a motorist of any age is not physically or medically capable of driving safely they may report their opinion to the RMV for medical evaluation. They may not be sued for reporting, or for failure to report.

Operators of public transportation (like buses or subways) will be prohibited from using any cell phones or hand-held electronic devices.

The legislation protects the taxpayer by prohibiting the RMV from imposing a higher fee for transactions conducted in person at a RMV branch than those fees charged on the RMV website.

There will also be a public awareness campaign on the dangers of distracted driving conducted by the RMV and the Governors Highway Safety Bureau.

Currently 8 states and the District of Columbia prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones. 19 states and DC prohibit school bus drivers from using cell phones. 27 states and DC prohibit Junior Operators from using cell phones. 28 states and DC prohibit text messaging while driving for all drivers.

Below are excerpts of the comments I offered on the House floor during House debate on accepting the Safe Driver Bill Conference Committee report

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Conference Committee Report on the Safe Driver’s Bill.

The Safe Driver Conference Committee was at work for almost 105 days on crafting an acceptable and appropriate compromise between the House and Senate versions of this important and long overdue bill.

Yesterday, the Conference Committee released our report and filed the legislation in the House Clerk’s office. It was unanimously agreed upon by all six of us on the committee.

I would like to thank my fellow conferees. We met numerous times and every member was involved in the process. I would especially like to thank my friend, the gentleman from Chicopee, the Chairman of the Transportation Committee, Joe Wagner.

Although we have often debated on opposite sides of issues in the past, it was a pleasure to work alongside the gentleman in this instance. He displayed a remarkable knowledge of the many facets of this complicated, complex, and controversial issue. Western Massachusetts was well represented on this Conference Committee.

I would like to thank my friend, the Minority Leader, the gentleman from North Reading, Brad Jones, for appointing me to this committee.

As a Republican member of the House I have been witness many times to attempts on the part of the majority party to marginalize the input and contributions of the members of my caucus.

I am happy to say that that did not occur during this conference process. I found it to be very open and inclusive and I believe every member was able to make positive contributions.

As I said at the press conference yesterday, safe driving is not a partisan issue. All motorists and all legislators, be they Republicans or Democrats, want the Commonwealth’s roads to be as safe as possible.

I have often said that we, as legislators, cannot legislate common sense, but we can pass laws that, if followed, will make our roads safer. Comedian Ron White puts it a little more harshly, saying, “You can’t fix stupid.” But I believe it is stupid to try to text while driving.

I drive over 100 miles each way from Westfield to the State House. Along the Massachusetts Turnpike I have seen almost every kind of example of distracted driving.

My hope is the attention that comes from the passage of this legislation today will help raise our constituents’ awareness of the issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

***

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.State.MA.US Website: www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group