Legislation to put Alaska's strong anti-texting law back onto the books passed the House today. The legislation was a bi-partisan effort led by Representative Les Gara, Democrat from Anchorage, and Representative Bill Thomas, Republican from Haines.

“The Legislature intended to ban dangerous conduct like texting while driving. Rather than wait for appeals, we’re sending a clear message to the public, now, that texting, and typing on personal and computer devices can cause death and serious injury. In an average text you drive the length of a football field before paying attention to driving. We don’t want cars to be moving weapons,” said Rep. Gara.

“This is a public safety issue. When people type or text while they’re driving, they are endangering people’s lives. That’s not acceptable,” said Rep. Thomas, the bill’s other prime sponsor.

According to the Department of Law, first time offenders of the law can expect to receive a fine or community service, but no jail time. This punishment for texting while driving is pretty much the sentencing guidelines that were in place before the bill was called into question last year.

Representative Gara said that texting while driving is dangerous, but didn’t envision anyoine getting jail time for first offenders that do not hurt anyone violating that law. He said, “Prior reports threatening that the bill will result in jail time for someone with a clean record may sound great but are inaccurate and only scare people.”

Thomas and Gara felt that a bi-partisan effort to pass this legislation was best in order to show a solid resolve as the courts are split on the law.

Representatives Peggy Wilson (R-Wrangell), Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage), Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) and the late Carl Gatto (R-Palmer) were all co-prime sponsors on the bi-partisan legislation.