Senate panel OKs $300 fine for careless texting while driving in Colorado

A measure to crack down on texting and driving cleared a Colorado Senate panel on Wednesday with bipartisan support, after lawmakers amended it to be more forgiving to motorists.

The changes reduced the proposed fine for first-time offenders from $500 to $300, and clarified that a motorist has to be driving in a “careless and imprudent manner” to be subject to any penalties.

Currently, the fine for first-time offenders is $50. The bill also would assess a five-point driver’s license penalty, up from one point

The measure — Senate Bill 27 — passed the GOP-led State Affairs Committee with bipartisan support after a compromise was struck between the bill’s Democratic sponsor, Sen. Lois Court of Denver, and Sen. Owen Hill, a Colorado Springs Republican.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/02/08/texting-while-driving-legislation-colorado/