Texting While Driving Ban Again in New Mexico Lawmaker’s Sights

Another attempt is being made at the New Mexico Legislature to prohibit texting while driving.

Democratic Sen. Peter Wirth of Santa Fe has pre-filed a bill, marking the fifth time a version of a texting-while-driving ban has been introduced at the Legislature.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Wirth’s bill is modeled after one he proposed last year. It died when Sen. Michael Sanchez kept it off the floor agenda.

The Belen Democrat said he worried that advocates could try to toughen its penalties.

This year’s bill would again impose a $25 fine for a first violation and double the fine for a second violation.

Gov. Susana Martinez’s office says the lack of a texting-while-driving ban makes New Mexico ineligible for millions of dollars of federal funding.