COLUMBUS — House Republicans have pulled Gov. Mike DeWine’s crackdown on distracted driving from the state transportation budget.
Under current law police need another reason to pull drivers over, such as speeding, before a distracted driving ticket can be issued.
DeWine wants the action made a primary driving offense, meaning police don’t need another reason to pull drivers over first.
DeWine, a Republican, included the measure in the budget but fellow GOP lawmakers on the House Finance Committee removed it Thursday.
House Finance Chairman Scott Oeslager, a Canton Republican, said lawmakers didn’t want to deal with a criminal law issue in the funding proposal.
Westerville Democray Mary Lightbody said she was disappointed but plans to concentrate on efforts to win approval for a stand-alone version of the restrictions which she has reintroduced and which awaits a first hearing in the House Transportation and Public Safety Committee.
DeWine’s two-year $75 billion spending plan includes a $1 billion initiative to help bring the state back from the economic downfall of the pandemic by supporting small businesses and local communities.
The budget also proposes $10 million for body cameras for Ohio police, a continuation of the state’s efforts to reduce toxic algae, and money for social service spending on Ohio schoolchildren to improve their educational outcomes.