For the second consecutive year, a bill to make texting while driving
illegal in South Dakota was shot down in the State Legislature. South
Dakota now remains one of only eight states in the country to have no
regulation regarding cell phone use while driving.
Most South Dakotans can agree texting and driving is dangerous. The most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows cell phone use while driving caused more than 1,000 deaths and 2,400 injuries, prompting the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Transportation Safety Board to encourage states to ban the behavior.
Even with the statistics, House Bill 1129 was killed in the House State Affairs Committee by a vote of 10-3.
"Frankly, there are some (lawmakers) that like to text while they drive and therefore aren't going to support it," said one of the bill's sponsors, Senator Craig Tiezsan (R)-District 34.
Tiezsan says many of his colleagues believe there will be issues enforcing a ban on texting while driving and some are skeptical a ban will even help reduce the number of distracted driving accidents.
Last year the Governors Highway Safety Association released a report that concluded texting bans do not reduce the number of crashes.
"I just think it's one of those laws that yea, you can pass it, but people are still going to text and it's just going to make things more dangerous," said Justin England of Rapid City.
House Majority Leader David Lust (R)-District 34 is among the lawmakers who voted to kill the bill in committee. Lust says more data needs to be provided before he can make an informed decision on the ban. He says that includes anticipated findings of a newly appointed task force on teen driving.
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The war against the pine beetle in the black hills is a difficult battle, especially when landowners refuse to chip-in and help fight the infestation on their own property. That's why Custer is holding non-compliant
The war against the pine beetle in the black hills is a difficult battle, especially when landowners refuse to chip-in and help fight the infestation on their own property. That's why Custer is holding non-compliant
New restaurants, new developments, and a new Rapid City center. It's no wonder local candidates have business on the brain heading into the June 5 election.Candidates for Rapid City Council, Rapid City
Candidates for Rapid City Council, Rapid City School Board, and Pennington County Commission spoke to a small group of voters at Monday night's Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology campus.
Monday, May 21 2012 8:08 PM EDT2012-05-22 00:08:32 GMT
They marched more than two miles from Memorial Plaza in Rapid City to Rapid City Regional Hospital. At issue: a patient who claims mutilated while undergoing surgery because he is Native American. But,
They marched more than two miles from Memorial Plaza in Rapid City to Rapid City Regional Hospital. At issue: a patient who claims mutilated while undergoing surgery because he is Native American. But,
Attorneys continue to haggle over a plea deal for a man accused of shooting at traveling vehicles on highway 16. The attorneys for John Shaw say they are in the final stages of what they consider a very
Attorneys continue to haggle over a plea deal for a man accused of shooting at traveling vehicles on highway 16.
Supporters of a Cheyenne River tribe member Who claims Rapid City Regional Hospital branded his skin with three k's are staging a rally and march in Rapid City.American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis
American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis Banks was leading the event called Justice for Vern Traversie rally, which began at Memorial Park and was expected to continue to the hospital.
The lone grocery store on Pine Ridge reopens with some health and pricing stipulations. The Sioux Nation shopping center closed for a week after findings that the store was selling outdated meat. Oglala
The lone grocery store on Pine Ridge reopens with some health and pricing stipulations. The Sioux Nation shopping center closed for a week after findings that the store was selling outdated meat. Oglala
A School of Mines student accused of writing a threatening letter a not guilty plea. Boyce Way, 19, of Mitchell was arraigned Monday morning in seventh circuit court. He's charged with making a terrorist
A School of Mines student accused of writing a threatening letter a not guilty plea. Boyce Way, 19, of Mitchell was arraigned Monday morning in seventh circuit court. He's charged with making a terrorist
Supporters of a Cheyenne River tribe member Who claims Rapid City Regional Hospital branded his skin with three k's are staging a rally and march in Rapid City.American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis
American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis Banks was leading the event called Justice for Vern Traversie rally, which began at Memorial Park and was expected to continue to the hospital.
His Youtube video detailing alleged abuses by Rapid City Regional Hospital has gone viral. Now supporters of Cheyenne River elder Vern Traversie are using social media to organize a rally Monday.The Justice
Activists say they plan to walk from Memorial Park, southbound to 5th Street, and then up to Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Rapid City Police are investigating a shooting at an apartment complex Saturday night. But so far, there are no victims and no suspects.Police were called to an apartment complex on East Knollwood Drive
Police were called to an apartment complex on East Knollwood Drive at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday night, Sgt. Brian Blenner said.
A standoff in Rapid Valley ended Saturday night with Pennington County Sheriff's Deputies storming into a home and taking a man to the hospital for medical evaluation.Deputies say the man called 911 from
Deputies say the man called 911 from 4433 Circlewood Drive at about 6:20 p.m. He was screaming at the dispatcher, saying he wanted law enforcement to come to his home.
Monday, May 21 2012 8:08 PM EDT2012-05-22 00:08:32 GMT
They marched more than two miles from Memorial Plaza in Rapid City to Rapid City Regional Hospital. At issue: a patient who claims mutilated while undergoing surgery because he is Native American. But,
They marched more than two miles from Memorial Plaza in Rapid City to Rapid City Regional Hospital. At issue: a patient who claims mutilated while undergoing surgery because he is Native American. But,
A Kadoka school board member faces charges of giving alcohol to minors. According to the charging document filed Monday, 46 year old Dale Christensen faces five counts of furnishing alcohol to a child.
According to police records filed Monday, 46 year old Dale Christensen faces five counts of furnishing alcohol to a child.
The lone grocery store on Pine Ridge reopens with some health and pricing stipulations. The Sioux Nation shopping center closed for a week after findings that the store was selling outdated meat. Oglala
The lone grocery store on Pine Ridge reopens with some health and pricing stipulations. The Sioux Nation shopping center closed for a week after findings that the store was selling outdated meat. Oglala
A South Dakota school district has resisted approving a request to include a Native American honor song at its graduation. While leaders of the Chamberlain School District mull the idea over, the Rapid
A different South Dakota school district has resisted approving a request to include a Native American honor song at its graduation.
You asked for it, and now it's back. The Tarzan Ring is up and swinging again after over twenty-five years. The ring allows you to swing from the edge of the pool and drop into the center, giving you
The ring was taken out to make room for new equipment, but because of so many requests, they decided to squeeze it back in.
A School of Mines student accused of writing a threatening letter a not guilty plea. Boyce Way, 19, of Mitchell was arraigned Monday morning in seventh circuit court. He's charged with making a terrorist
A School of Mines student accused of writing a threatening letter a not guilty plea. Boyce Way, 19, of Mitchell was arraigned Monday morning in seventh circuit court. He's charged with making a terrorist
A bill to ban texting while driving in South Dakota was voted down 10-3 in committee.
