Brown said a Cleveland motorist was convicted in 1993 of not paying full attention while driving. In December, a Naval Academy midshipman whose car slammed into another vehicle, killing its two occupants, while he fumbled with his cell phone was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of negligence. If convicted on all counts, she faces up to 26 years in prison. A local prosecutor said the use of cell phones while driving is legal. But if a driver causes an accident while using one, they had better be prepared to face the music.
Defense attorneys say the accident was nothing more than an accident.
But Booker said recent studies suggest that using cell phones while driving is not just a nuisance for others on the road, it's a hazard almost on par with driving while intoxicated. That's very nearly the same as alcohol, by the way. She faces an arraignment on April 25. Some nations have banned the use of cellular phones while driving. In the United States, many communities are considering similar moves.