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The parents of a Florida teen killed in a texting while driving accident are asking lawmakers to ban the dangerous practice. Two years in a row a legislative ban on texting has failed late in session. As Whitney Ray tells us, the legislation is up again this year and once again its future is uncertain.

“This has been around my neck three years. It will never come off. In my heart every day,” said Anges Augello.

In a heart-shaped locket, Anges carries a picture of her teenage daughter Allie. Allie was killed in a head on collision in 2008, by a driver texting from behind the wheel.

“To lose a child over a text message, over a phone over someone who is so careless. How do you sleep at night, ever,” said Anges.

Allie’s parents are sharing their story with lawmakers, hoping their loss will bring new life to a bill to ban texting while driving.

“It’s something that you never want to experience in your life, to find out your child was killed, especially by something that could have been totally avoided,” said Steve.

Two years in a row a legislative ban on texting while driving died late in session. This year it passed three Senate committees, but hasn’t even received a hearing in the House.

House members supporting the ban say a few members in leadership are keeping the bill from being heard.

“Bottom line here, there’s obstructionists who won’t let the bills out of the drawer,” said Representative Irv Slosberg.

Police officers and doctors were on hand to lend their support for a texting ban. They say too many teens have been killed and too many families have suffered.
The bill makes texting a secondary offense. That means police couldn’t pull you over for texting, but if you were pulled over for something else, you could then be ticketed for texting. The fine for a first time offender would be 30 bucks. Get caught twice in five years and the fine doubles. People who cause a wreck because they are texting would have six points added to their driving record.