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 juris-
diction 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Distracted Driving 
Prevention Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. DISTRACTED DRIVING GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 405(e) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:10 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2154.IH
H2154
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘in paragraphs 
(2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘in paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (4)’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(C)— 
(A) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘fine’’ and in-
serting ‘‘penalty’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘fines’’ and 
inserting ‘‘penalties’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘of-
fense;’’ and inserting ‘‘offense; and’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraph (C); 
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
subparagraph (C); and 
(D) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated 
by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph)— 
(i) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘fine’’ and 
inserting ‘‘penalty’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘fines’’ 
and inserting ‘‘penalties’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through 
(9) as paragraphs (5) through (10), respectively; 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:10 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2154.IH
H2154
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(4) PROHIBITION ON HANDHELD CELL PHONE 
USE WHILE DRIVING.—A State statute meets the re-
quirements set forth in this paragraph if the stat-
ute— 
‘‘(A) prohibits a driver from holding a per-
sonal wireless communications device to conduct 
a telephone call while driving; 
‘‘(B) allows the use of a hands-free device 
by a driver, other than a driver who has not at-
tained the age of 18 years, for initiating, con-
ducting, or receiving a telephone call; 
‘‘(C) makes violation of the law a primary 
offense; and 
‘‘(D) establishes— 
‘‘(i) a minimum penalty for a first vio-
lation of the law; and 
‘‘(ii) increased penalties for repeat 
violations.’’; 
(6) in paragraph (5) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4) of this subsection) by striking ‘‘in para-
graphs (2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘in paragraphs 
(2), (3), and (4)’’; and 
(7) in paragraph (10) (as redesignated by para-
graph (4) of this subsection)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:10 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2154.IH
H2154
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
through (E) as subparagraphs (C) through (F), 
respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) 
PENALTY.—The 
term 
‘penalty’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) a fine; 
‘‘(ii) a number of points to be in-
cluded on a driver’s record; or 
‘‘(iii) an action taken by a State that 
is substantially similar to including points 
on a driver’s record.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made in sub-
section (a) shall take effect on October 1 of the first fiscal 
year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a research program to study dis-
tracted driving by motor vehicle drivers. 
(b) SCOPE.—The program established under sub-
section (a) shall include studies with respect to— 
(1) driver behavior; 
(2) vehicle technology; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:10 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2154.IH
H2154
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) portable electronic devices that are com-
monly brought into motor vehicles. 
(c) RESEARCH AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary may grant research contracts to non-
governmental entities to study distracted driving. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary may not 
grant a research contract under this section to any 
person that produces or sells— 
(A) electronic equipment that is used in 
motor vehicles; 
(B) portable electronic equipment com-
monly brought into motor vehicles; or 
(C) motor vehicles. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the results of the program estab-
lished under subsection (a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:10 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2154.IH
H2154
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. FCC REPORT ON DISTRACTED DRIVING TECH-
NOLOGY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a re-
port that identifies— 
(1) data the Commission can collect and ana-
lyze that will assist in understanding and reducing 
the problem of distracted driving involving the use of 
personal wireless communications devices; 
(2) existing and developing wireless communica-
tions technology that may be used to reduce prob-
lems associated with distracted driving; and 
(3) existing authority that the Commission may 
use to assist in reducing problems associated with 
distracted driving. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:10 May 08, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2154.IH
H2154
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS