As the Nov. 6 general election approaches, the Jefferson City News Tribune is forwarding reader questions to area candidates for various offices.
Lawmakers have, for several years, debated whether Missouri should prohibit people from using cellphones while driving.
Reader Clayton Hill asked: If elected, would you initiate or support legislation to ban use of cellphones by drivers?
Responses may have been edited for length and clarity.
Missouri Senate District 6
The candidates are Republican Mike Bernskoetter, Democrat Nicole Thompson and Libertarian Steven Wilson - all from the Jefferson City area. The district covers seven counties: Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Miller, Maries, Osage and Gasconade.
Bernskoetter: "Over the last several years, we have made great strides in raising awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. Missouri already has a law on the books banning texting and driving for those under the age of 21. I will continue working to raise awareness while protecting our individual liberties."
Thompson: "Distracted driving from cellphones has been shown to be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. I would support additional legislation to limit cellphone use while driving. Since Missouri has some of the most lenient laws in the country in this area, I think it is important that we look to other states and implement policies that have been shown to be effective at reducing traffic accidents caused by distracted driving."
Wilson: "No. Such laws are gateway laws. If this were a law, then how would you address drivers performing any secondary activity such as: smoking, drinking coffee, putting on makeup, looking for a dropped item, singing along to music, etc.? Such laws are unenforceable. An officer would have to witness a driver on their phone while driving, which would make protections (from self-incrimination) offered by the Fifth Amendment questionable. If a driver causes an accident wherein someone dies, they can be prosecuted for vehicular homicide. But (citations for) using a phone while driving would be a waste of resources, when officers should be dealing with 'real crime.'"
Missouri House District 60
Dave Griffith, a Republican, and Sara Michael, a Democrat, are running for the Missouri House of Representatives District 60 seat. The district includes most of Jefferson City with the exception of the southeast-most part of the city.
Griffith: "Missouri already has restrictions on cellphone use by those under the age of 21. It prevents youth from texting and driving, which has been a deterrent and has saved many lives. I believe we should increase education surrounding the dangers of texting and driving and encourage use of hands-free devices and encourage following the motto 'buckle up-phone down' while driving."
Michael: "I would support an initiative to extend the current ban against texting and driving to all drivers, regardless of age or experience. Nearly one out of every four accidents is caused by distracted drivers who are texting at the wheel. I also believe cellphone usage, not hands-free, contributes to distracted driving, posing a danger to the driver and others on the road, so I would also support legislation that would limit the use of cellphones by all drivers of all ages, unless done in hands-free mode."
Missouri House District 59
Rudy Veit, a Republican, and Linda Ellen Greeson, a Democrat, are running for the Missouri House of Representatives District 59 seat. The district includes a portion of eastern Jefferson City, most of Cole County and a portion of northern Miller County.
Greeson: "Cellphone use by drivers is a distraction. People may believe they can multitask when in reality one or the other, driving or talking/texting, does not get your full attention and consequently slows the needed reaction time when driving. I could support a proposal banning the use of cellphones by drivers."
Veit: "Distracted driving is a threat to safety on our roads. There is a wide variety of laws across the country regarding the use of cell phones while driving - from full bans on hand-held devices to limitations on texting. In Missouri, we ban texting by drivers under 21 years of age only. We can't go back in time and make cellphones disappear. We live in a world where access to communication is necessary. However, with the advances of technology, it is worth looking at options that will lessen the risk from cellphone usage on the road while still preserving individual freedoms."
Missouri House District 49
Travis Fitzwater, the Republican incumbent, and Lisa Buhr, a Democrat, are running for the Missouri House of Representatives District 49 seat.
Buhr: "Over 3,000 deaths a year in this country are due to distracted driver accidents. That is a staggering number. I would definitely support legislation that would address this issue."
Fitzwater: "I've voted for a ban on texting while driving in the past and would continue to do so in the future provided that there are civil liberty protections included. I'm not the only one that is concerned with the amount of screen time we all witness from drivers in other cars on the roads in Missouri. We must find solutions that include protecting our liberties while promoting the safety of all drivers and passengers on Missouri's roads."