By Rep. Paul Anderson
It appears that some kind of legislation regarding cell phone usage while driving will become law this year in Minnesota. Bills to that end have been introduced in both chambers, and the House version received bipartisan support in the Transportation Committee during its first hearing last week. The bill, House File 50, would ban the use of hand-held cell phones in a motor vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Blue tooth or one-touch mode of operation would still be allowed. Just what the penalties for breaking this proposed law will be are not certain yet. I’ve heard discussion of fines that get larger with each infraction all the way up to confiscation of the phone. With the price of today’s technology, that could range up to a thousand dollars or more.
I do think something needs to be done to address the problem of inattentive driving. It’s scary going down the freeway and being passed by someone doing 80 mph and having a cell phone up to their ear. Texting or actually calling a number while driving is worse yet. The act of texting is already against the law, but it’s difficult to prove someone was actually in the act of doing it. I’ve even heard that the law makes texting more dangerous, as some drivers now try to hide the phone down on their lap instead of holding it up on the steering wheel in an effort to avoid detection.
Will this proposal eliminate the problem of inattentive driving? No, but it will draw more attention to the problem and make us think about locking our phones away while behind the wheel. It’s also a much more dangerous situation to be on one’s phone while traveling at a high rate of speed or in heavy traffic. Obviously, driving down a gravel township road where traffic is sparse is a different story.
There are also other ways a driver can be districted. Engaging in conversation, sight-seeing, and plain old inattention can also lead to problems, and we really can’t legislate those things away. Bottom line is that each of us needs to devote full attention and keep our eyes on the road while driving.
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Our Republican Rural Caucus – comprised of members of both the House and Senate – heard an interesting presentation last week from folks representing the Minnesota Hospital Association. The main topic of conversation was proposed legislation to allow residents to buy into a state-run health insurance program known as MinnesotaCare. The problem with such an expansion is the payment rates doctors and hospitals receive from the program. There is real concern that if Minnesota Care reimbursement rates remain the same, many rural hospitals would not be able to sustain a viable operation. The mix of payments between Medicare, Medicaid, and Minnesota Care, along with private or commercial health insurance, is key to a hospital’s financial operation. Currently, the private or commercial health insurance payment rates are higher, and they are used to offset reduced or underpayment from those government programs. If that ratio of payment types were to change dramatically and more residents were shifted from commercial health insurance to Minnesota Care, for example, that could prove to be challenging for our hospitals.
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With snow, cold temps, and bitter wind chills, we are in the middle of an old-fashioned Minnesota January. Temps are forecast to drop to minus 30 degrees or lower this week, with strong winds adding greatly to the danger. I think of those working outside in these conditions, keeping their livestock comfortable or having to thaw frozen water pipes. Thanks also to those who battle the elements to keep our roads passable and safe in the winter. A job that is relatively easy to complete in July is much more difficult in these brutal conditions. Be safe as you attend to outside chores this week, and may the water keep flowing and nothing else freeze up!
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