LINCOLN- A record-high 19 Nebraskans lost their lives in distracted driving crashes in 2020, and a state legislative committee was urged on Tuesday to do something about it. However, based on the response from members of the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, one step to do that, making texting while driving a primary offense, faces a tough road, as in past years.

"Where do you draw the line?," asked Sen. Mike Moser, who chairs the committee. What would a law enforcement officer have to witness, how could you prove someone was texting, and why not go after other forms of distraction were among the questions aired at the hearing. These questions have helped to derail several past legislative attempts to make texting while driving a primary offense.

Currently, texting while driving in Nebraska is a secondary offense, for which a driver can be ticketed only if stopped for another infraction or involved in an accident. To change this, Sen. Loren Lippincott introduced LB1033, stating to the committee that Nebraska ought to join the growing number of states that are cracking down on cell phone use.

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