I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3994 
To establish a program to reduce injuries and deaths caused by cellphone 
use and texting while driving. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 3, 2009 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself and Mrs. SCHMIDT) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a program to reduce injuries and deaths caused 
by cellphone use and texting while driving. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Distracted driving incentive grants. 
Sec. 3. Distracted driving national education program. 
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Sec. 4. Research and data collection. 
Sec. 5. Research program. 
Sec. 6. FCC report on distracted driving technology. 
Sec. 7. Provision of information to States. 
Sec. 8. Commercial motor vehicles and school buses. 
Sec. 9. Funding. 
SEC. 2. DISTRACTED DRIVING INCENTIVE GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 4 of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 413. Distracted driving incentive grants 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make a 
grant under this section to any State that enacts and im-
plements a statute that meets the requirements of sub-
sections (b) and (c) of this section. 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITION ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.— 
A State statute meets the requirements of this subsection 
if the statute— 
‘‘(1) prohibits the use of a personal wireless 
communications device by a driver for texting while 
driving; 
‘‘(2) makes violation of the statute a primary 
offense; 
‘‘(3) establishes— 
‘‘(A) a minimum fine for a first violation 
of the statute; and 
‘‘(B) increased fines for repeat violations; 
and 
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‘‘(4) provides increased civil and criminal pen-
alties than would otherwise apply if a vehicle acci-
dent is caused by a driver who is using such a device 
in violation of the statute. 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION ON HANDHELD CELLPHONE USE 
WHILE DRIVING.—A State statute meets the require-
ments of this subsection if the statute— 
‘‘(1) prohibits a driver from holding a personal 
wireless communications device to conduct a tele-
phone call while driving; 
‘‘(2) allows the use of hands-free devices that 
enable a driver, other than a driver who has not at-
tained the age of 18, to initiate, conduct, or receive 
a telephone call without holding the device; 
‘‘(3) makes violation of the statute a primary 
offense; 
‘‘(4) requires distracted driving issues to be 
tested as part of the State driver’s license examina-
tion; 
‘‘(5) establishes— 
‘‘(A) a minimum fine for a first violation 
of the statute; and 
‘‘(B) increased fines for repeat violations; 
and 
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