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Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law several bills including a bill prohibiting texting and posting to social media while driving and a bill requiring DNA testing for those arrested and HIV testing for those charged with sex crimes against minors.
House Bill 389 banning texting and posting to social media becomes effective July 1. Bryant signed the bill last week.
The bill allows a civil fine of $25 per violation. It increases to $100 per violation in 2016.
"It will save lives," said House Transportation Chairman Robert Johnson III, D-Natchez.
Arlin Lofton Victory of Jackson, whose father was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2010 when a teenage driver in an SUV didn't yield the right-of-way, said she has been following the texting ban bill.
Witnesses told police at the time of the Aug. 25, 2010 crash it appeared the girl may have been texting or looking down.
William H. "Bill" Lofton, 45, who was manager and vice president of the Trustmark National Bank's Battlefield branch; was killed.
The girl was making a left turn from Raymond Road onto McDowell Road around 6 p.m. when her SUV collided with William H. "Bill" Lofton's Honda motorcycle. Lofton, 45, who was wearing his helmet, died at the scene. Lofton was manager and vice president of the Trustmark National Bank's Battlefield branch when he was killed.
The teenager was ticketed for misdemeanor driving without insurance and no driver's license. No other charges were filed after Lofton's family didn't pursue any other action, saying the teen wasn't intentionally trying to cause the accident.
Mississippi had a law prohibiting drivers 16 and younger from texting. Now it will be expanded to all drivers.
"I am very pleased the governor has signed the legislation," Victory said Friday. "I have been keeping tabs on it. I'm a witness how drastic texting and driving can change your life. It was traumatic for me (when her father was killed).
Victory said she can remember when she was a teen, she would text while driving.
"It's not worth it," Victory said. "What until you're not driving."
The DNA and HIV testing bill, HB257, was supported by University of Mississippi Medical Center pediatric HIV specialist Dr. Hannah Gay.
It allows HIV testing of an adult accused of sexually assaulting a child prior to any conviction. |
