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DENVER -
A controversial bill that aims to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving got a strong show of support Tuesday from lawmakers, some of whom were moved to tears by the emotional testimony of Shelley Forney.
"The convenience of having a cell phone in a car was not worth my daughter's life," said Forney. Her daughter, Erica, was riding her bicycle near her Fort Collins home last November when she was hit by a driver, who was allegedly sending a text message at the time, and killed.
"My hope in sharing my story with you today is that you will see the dangers in driving and talking on a cell phone," Forney said in 10 minutes of emotional testimony before the House Transportation and Energy Committee.
"People are dying. People are severely injured. And there are no laws in place restricting drivers from talking or texting on their phones."
Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, is the sponsor of House Bill 1094, which would make it illegal to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving. The bill, which the committee passed Tuesday afternoon on a 9-2 vote, would also make it illegal to text message while driving; and drivers under the age of 18 would be prohibited from using cell phones in the car at all, even with Bluetooth or hands-free devices.
"It is simply not safe to use a cell phone while driving," Levy said. "These days, the cell phones and the text messages have gotten out of control. The tragic loss of life and limb has made me ever more determined to focus people's attention back on the road."
Levy answered the most common criticisms of her bill and came armed with statistics that back it.
"Drivers using a cell phone were more likely to have a rear-end crash than driver's who consumed alcohol," Levy said in reference to one recent study.
It wasn't enough to convince all committee members.
"My problem here is that we're picking out one distraction because it's politically expedient to do so," said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, one of two committee members to vote against the bill. "This is no more dangerous than eating a Big Mac or putting on make up in the car."
Several Democrats had joined Republicans in voicing their concern over Levy's bill and a few had even said that they would be hesitant to support it.
But, quite possibly, that was before Tuesday's testimony from a mother who lost her daughter -- and another mother who lost her leg.
"I've been through 14 surgeries," said Suzanne McKinney, whose left leg had to be amputated after she was hit by a driver who was apparently distracted by his own cell phone. "I've never found a prosthetic that fits me right. I've had to stop working as a nurse.
"I don't understand the waste. Erica's gone. My leg's never coming back," McKinney said. "It's just a waste. It's a waste of life for something that could absolutely be prevented."
"The convenience of having a cell phone in a car was not worth my daughter's life," said Forney. Her daughter, Erica, was riding her bicycle near her Fort Collins home last November when she was hit by a driver, who was allegedly sending a text message at the time, and killed.
"My hope in sharing my story with you today is that you will see the dangers in driving and talking on a cell phone," Forney said in 10 minutes of emotional testimony before the House Transportation and Energy Committee.
"People are dying. People are severely injured. And there are no laws in place restricting drivers from talking or texting on their phones."
Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, is the sponsor of House Bill 1094, which would make it illegal to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving. The bill, which the committee passed Tuesday afternoon on a 9-2 vote, would also make it illegal to text message while driving; and drivers under the age of 18 would be prohibited from using cell phones in the car at all, even with Bluetooth or hands-free devices.
"It is simply not safe to use a cell phone while driving," Levy said. "These days, the cell phones and the text messages have gotten out of control. The tragic loss of life and limb has made me ever more determined to focus people's attention back on the road."
Levy answered the most common criticisms of her bill and came armed with statistics that back it.
"Drivers using a cell phone were more likely to have a rear-end crash than driver's who consumed alcohol," Levy said in reference to one recent study.
It wasn't enough to convince all committee members.
"My problem here is that we're picking out one distraction because it's politically expedient to do so," said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, one of two committee members to vote against the bill. "This is no more dangerous than eating a Big Mac or putting on make up in the car."
Several Democrats had joined Republicans in voicing their concern over Levy's bill and a few had even said that they would be hesitant to support it.
But, quite possibly, that was before Tuesday's testimony from a mother who lost her daughter -- and another mother who lost her leg.
"I've been through 14 surgeries," said Suzanne McKinney, whose left leg had to be amputated after she was hit by a driver who was apparently distracted by his own cell phone. "I've never found a prosthetic that fits me right. I've had to stop working as a nurse.
"I don't understand the waste. Erica's gone. My leg's never coming back," McKinney said. "It's just a waste. It's a waste of life for something that could absolutely be prevented."
