Ohio Senate president questions DeWine’s distracted driving plan

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COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio Republican Senate President Matt Huffman is expressing doubts about a proposal by GOP Gov. Mike DeWine to make distracted driving reason enough to pull someone over.

Under current law police need another infraction to pull drivers over, such as speeding, before a distracted driving ticket can be issued.

DeWine says the violation should be a primary offense and he’s including the change in his transportation budget.

Huffman (R-Lima) said Wednesday he’s concerned about the proposal as an impingement on adult drivers’ liberties. He says he’s also concerned about municipalities using such a law to generate revenue through ticket writing.

DeWine has proposed a two-year $75 billion spending plan that 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.

In addition to the crackdown on Ohioans handling electronic devices while driving, the budget also proposes $10 million for body cameras for Ohio police and 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.