Sen. Alan Lasee, R-Green Bay, intends to re-draft a Senate bill he created last session which then prohibited text messaging by those driving cars, school buses or city buses.
A recent train collision in California that killed 25 people and injured more than 100 others may have been caused by the conductor text messaging on his cell phone rather than making sure the rail was clear.
Lasee on Wednesday announced he wanted to re-draft his Senate bill to include drivers of trains.
"Had this train engineer kept his eyes on the track instead of his phone, this tragic event may not have occurred," Lasee said.
The announcement is reactive and is about an issue that's not on the top of most legislators' or state residents' list of concerns. Nor should it be.
Lasee's bill passed the Senate last year, but was not taken up in the Assembly. Five states have passed a texting ban, while seven other states have legislation pending.
"I intend to make this bill one of my top legislative priorities," Lasee said. "Ensuring the safety of our citizens is something I hope my colleagues in the Legislature will focus on in the upcoming session."
While safety of citizens of Wisconsin is important, commuter trains are much more common in California than Wisconsin. Texting while driving is dangerous, and sometimes an annoyance, but it's rarely deadly.
Lasee should urge legislators to focus on issues more important to Wisconsin, like the economy, health care and school funding.
That would be a better use of everyone's time.
A recent train collision in California that killed 25 people and injured more than 100 others may have been caused by the conductor text messaging on his cell phone rather than making sure the rail was clear.
Lasee on Wednesday announced he wanted to re-draft his Senate bill to include drivers of trains.
"Had this train engineer kept his eyes on the track instead of his phone, this tragic event may not have occurred," Lasee said.
The announcement is reactive and is about an issue that's not on the top of most legislators' or state residents' list of concerns. Nor should it be.
Lasee's bill passed the Senate last year, but was not taken up in the Assembly. Five states have passed a texting ban, while seven other states have legislation pending.
"I intend to make this bill one of my top legislative priorities," Lasee said. "Ensuring the safety of our citizens is something I hope my colleagues in the Legislature will focus on in the upcoming session."
While safety of citizens of Wisconsin is important, commuter trains are much more common in California than Wisconsin. Texting while driving is dangerous, and sometimes an annoyance, but it's rarely deadly.
Lasee should urge legislators to focus on issues more important to Wisconsin, like the economy, health care and school funding.
That would be a better use of everyone's time.
