Texting while driving could be primary offense

LINCOLN – “I k rite,” the text message read.

That text message caused a life-changing car accident for 19-year-old Cedar Rapids native Erin Smith, who testified in support of a bill during the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee hearing Monday.

Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff presented the bill (LB118) that would make texting while driving a primary offense rather than the secondary offense it is now. Drivers can be ticketed for a secondary offense only if they have stopped for some other offense.

Smith was among the nine who testified in support of the bill. Sen. Annette...