• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Cracking down on cell phone use while driving in construction zones

Cracking down on cell phone use while driving in construction zones

April 30, 2015 By Jackie Johnson

Senator Petrowski explains how his amendment makes the bill safer. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Senator Petrowski explains how his amendment makes the bill safer. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Legislation at the Wisconsin Capitol would prohibit the use of hand-held telephones while driving through construction zones when workers are present.

Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) is the bill’s author and chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “While there are obvious difficulties with the enforcement of these laws,” he said, “they do serve as an excellent educational tool and reinforce the idea that safest drivers are those who pay attention to the road and not what’s going on in their cell phones.”

Violators would pay $20 to $40 for their first offense, $50 to $100 for second and subsequent offenses within a year.

Jim Griesbach is the Marathon County Highway Commissioner. He testified at the public hearing. “It’s scary when I have my workers come in at the end of the day and they say they actually have to jump out of the way of a car to avoid being struck.”

Griesbach said a few workers were seriously hurt over the years in Marathon County and one worker was killed.

A hand-held device can be used to report an emergency, Petrowski said, and hands-free devices can be used any time. The bill (SB-135) passed through the committee Thursday, chaired by Petrowski.

There were 83 fatalities in Wisconsin construction zones from 2006-2013, according to the DOT, and more than 1500 every year.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...