I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2154 

To amend title 23, United States Code, to reduce injuries and deaths caused 

by cell phone use and texting while driving, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 30, 2015 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. DEUTCH, and Mr. DESAULNIER) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 

in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend title 23, United States Code, to reduce injuries 

and deaths caused by cell phone use and texting while 

driving, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Distracted Driving 

5 Prevention Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DISTRACTED DRIVING GRANTS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 405(e) of title 23, United 

8 States Code, is amended— 


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1 (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘in paragraphs 

2 (2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘in paragraphs (2), (3), 

3 and (4)’’; 

4 (2) in paragraph (2)(C)— 

5 (A) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘fine’’ and in6 serting ‘‘penalty’’; and 

7 (B) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘fines’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘penalties’’; 

9 (3) in paragraph (3)— 

10 (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘of11 fense;’’ and inserting ‘‘offense; and’’; 

12 (B) by striking subparagraph (C); 

13 (C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 

14 subparagraph (C); and 

15 (D) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated 

16 by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph)— 

17 (i) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘fine’’ and 

18 inserting ‘‘penalty’’; and 

19 (ii) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘fines’’ 

20 and inserting ‘‘penalties’’; 

21 (4) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through 

22 (9) as paragraphs (5) through (10), respectively; 

23 (5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol24 lowing: 


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1 ‘‘(4) PROHIBITION ON HANDHELD CELL PHONE

2 USE WHILE DRIVING.—A State statute meets the re3 quirements set forth in this paragraph if the stat4 ute— 

5 ‘‘(A) prohibits a driver from holding a per6 sonal wireless communications device to conduct 

7 a telephone call while driving; 

8 ‘‘(B) allows the use of a hands-free device 

9 by a driver, other than a driver who has not at10 tained the age of 18 years, for initiating, con11 ducting, or receiving a telephone call; 

12 ‘‘(C) makes violation of the law a primary 

13 offense; and 

14 ‘‘(D) establishes— 

15 ‘‘(i) a minimum penalty for a first vio16 lation of the law; and 

17 ‘‘(ii) increased penalties for repeat 

18 violations.’’; 

19 (6) in paragraph (5) (as redesignated by para20 graph (4) of this subsection) by striking ‘‘in para21 graphs (2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘in paragraphs 

22 (2), (3), and (4)’’; and 

23 (7) in paragraph (10) (as redesignated by para24 graph (4) of this subsection)— 


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1 (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 

2 through (E) as subparagraphs (C) through (F), 

3 respectively; and 

4 (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 

5 the following: 

6 ‘‘(B) PENALTY.—The term ‘penalty’ 

7 means— 

8 ‘‘(i) a fine; 

9 ‘‘(ii) a number of points to be in10 cluded on a driver’s record; or 

11 ‘‘(iii) an action taken by a State that 

12 is substantially similar to including points 

13 on a driver’s record.’’. 

14 (b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made in sub15 section (a) shall take effect on October 1 of the first fiscal 

16 year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act. 

17 SEC. 3. RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

19 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor20 tation shall establish a research program to study dis21 tracted driving by motor vehicle drivers. 

22 (b) SCOPE.—The program established under sub23 section (a) shall include studies with respect to— 

24 (1) driver behavior; 

25 (2) vehicle technology; and 


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1 (3) portable electronic devices that are com2 monly brought into motor vehicles. 

3 (c) RESEARCH AGREEMENTS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, 

5 the Secretary may grant research contracts to non6 governmental entities to study distracted driving. 

7 (2) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary may not 

8 grant a research contract under this section to any 

9 person that produces or sells— 

10 (A) electronic equipment that is used in 

11 motor vehicles; 

12 (B) portable electronic equipment com13 monly brought into motor vehicles; or 

14 (C) motor vehicles. 

15 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

16 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

17 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

18 of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

19 of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 

20 Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep21 resentatives a report on the results of the program estab22 lished under subsection (a). 


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1 SEC. 4. FCC REPORT ON DISTRACTED DRIVING TECH2 NOLOGY. 

3 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 

4 of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall 

5 submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

6 Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on En7 ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a re8 port that identifies— 

9 (1) data the Commission can collect and ana10 lyze that will assist in understanding and reducing 

11 the problem of distracted driving involving the use of 

12 personal wireless communications devices; 

13 (2) existing and developing wireless communica14 tions technology that may be used to reduce prob15 lems associated with distracted driving; and 

16 (3) existing authority that the Commission may 

17 use to assist in reducing problems associated with 

18 distracted driving. 

Æ 


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