Resolve, To Investigate Cellular Telephone Use and Driver Safety
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0576
Committee Amendment CA_A_H349 (House)
Committee: Transportation replaces the resolve and changes the title to reflect the content of the amendment

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A, to H.P. 443, L.D. 576, "Resolve, To 
Investigate Cellular Telephone Use and Driver Safety" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Examine Issues Related to Distracted Driving' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Public Safety to study distracted driving and 
motor vehicle accidents. Resolved: That the Department of Public Safety shall 
analyze available data, including data generated from its planned upgrades of crash 
reports that will include fields for specific distractions and any other relevant data that 
may be available to the department, to determine the role various types of distractions 
play in motor vehicle accidents. The Department of Public Safety shall also develop 
recommendations for strengthening laws related to distracted driving; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Reports. Resolved: That the Department of Public Safety shall submit an 
interim report, including any data collected pursuant to section 1 and its analysis of that 
data together with recommended legislation to strengthen laws related to distracted 
driving, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
transportation matters by January 15, 2009. The department shall provide a final report 
on the data collected pursuant to section 1 and its analysis of that data together with any 
further recommended legislation related to distracted driving to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 
IS, 2010. 
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
transportation matters may submit legislation related to the department's reports to the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·4· to H.P. 443. L.D. 576 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Transportation replaces the resolve and changes the title to reflect the content of the 
amendment. The resolve directed the Department of Public Safety to study the effect of 
cellular telephone use on motor vehicle accidents. 
The amendment directs the 
department to analyze available data, including data generated from its planned upgrades 
of crash reports that will include fields for specific distractions and any other relevant 
data that may be available to the department, to detennine the role various types of 
distractions play in motor vehicle accidents. It also directs the department to develop 
recommendations for strengthening laws relating to distracted driving. The department is 
directed to submit an interim report that includes recommended legislation to strengthen 
laws related to distracted driving to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 15, 2009. The department is 
directed to provide a final report on the data it has collected and its analysis of that data 
together with any further recommended legislation related to distracted driving to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
by January 15, 2010. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over transportation matters is authorized to submit legislation related to the department's 
report to the First and Second Regular Sessions of the 124th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05122/07 
~ae 
LD576 
LR 2401(02) 
Resolve, To Investigate Cellular Telephone Use and Driver Safety 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund 
LR2401(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1