Latest Personal Auto Headlines
All the headlines from our Personal Auto Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Hawaii Driver’s License Lawsuit Gains Fed Support
Mar 31 2014 // The U.S. Department of Justice is supporting a lawsuit alleging Hawaii discriminates against those who struggle with English because of challenges they face in obtaining a driver’s license. The Justice Department on...
Bill Banning Cellphone Use While Driving Stalls in Louisiana
Mar 26 2014 // It appears Louisiana drivers won’t face new limits on their cellphone use. An annual effort seeking to prohibit hand-held cellphone use by motorists stalled in the House Transportation Committee. After facing...
Ridesharing Service Sued by Seattle Taxi Drivers
Mar 26 2014 // A Seattle-area taxi drivers organization has sued an app-based ridesharing service, alleging that Uber violates multiple laws and regulations, thus harming taxi drivers and the public. The Seattle Times reported the...
Michigan Drivers’ Catastrophic Claims Fee to Remain $186
Mar 24 2014 // An agency that charges Michigan drivers for the cost of caring for people catastrophically injured in crashes says the fee they pay will remain unchanged at $186 per year. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association...
South Dakota Legislature Approves Texting While Driving Ban
Mar 24 2014 // After years of debate on the issue, the South Dakota Legislature has finally approved a statewide ban on texting while driving. The state House voted 52-18 in favor of the measure and senators approved it by a 28-7...
North Carolina Lacks Data to Assess Driver’s Ed Program: Report
Mar 21 2014 // The North Carolina legislature’s government watchdog agency says the state still does not have a good handle on how effective local driver’s education programs for high school students are financially or how...
One Driving Safety Bill Moves Forward in Oklahoma, Another Pushed Back
Mar 17 2014 // The full Oklahoma Senate approved legislation barring cell phone use in Oklahoma school zones, but a bill that would ban texting while driving suffered a setback as it was sent back to committee. The positive vote on...
Insurers to Illinois Lawmakers: Regulate Commercial Rideshare Insurance Coverage
Mar 16 2014 // Two of the nation’s largest property/casualty insurer trade associations have weighed in with Illinois lawmakers on the subject of insurance coverage for commercial rideshare companies, saying such companies should...
Colorado Bill Limiting Drivers’ Use Of Cellphones Stalls
Mar 14 2014 // New restrictions on cellphone use while driving stalled in the Colorado House on Wednesday as lawmakers wrestled with emotional testimony and the logistics of enforcing the proposal. With the bill, Colorado would join 12...
Poll: Most Mississippians Support Ban on Texting While Driving for All Motorists
Mar 13 2014 // A new survey released this month says most Mississippians support tightening the state’s law on texting while driving. Currently Mississippi prohibits texting while driving for those with a learner’s permit or...
Wisconsin Bill Would Limit Parents’ Liability for Young Drivers
Mar 13 2014 // Parents of teen drivers who get into accidents would only be liable for up to $300,000 in claims under a bill that has passed the Wisconsin Senate. The Senate voted 17-16 to pass the bill on March 12, after Democrats used...
Colorado Bill Would Exclude Uber Drivers Until Summoned
Mar 10 2014 // A bill on ridesharing in Colorado passed by state Senate on Monday paints a “bright line” between when users of the app-based services are driving for personal reasons and when they are providing a commercial...
Oklahoma Bills Aimed at Driving Safety Advance
Mar 10 2014 // Oklahoma lawmakers are aiming to make driving safer by advancing bills that target texting while driving, using cell phones in school zones and back seat seatbelt use. The Oklahoma Senate Public Safety Committee approved...
Stoned Driving Campaign Launched in Colorado
Mar 7 2014 // Colorado is launching a new “Drive High, Get A DUI” campaign to remind drivers that newly legal marijuana should be treated like alcohol and not used before driving. The campaign includes radio and TV ads and...
Ban On Texting While Driving To Become New Mexico Law
Mar 3 2014 // A proposal to ban texting while driving in New Mexico will become official law. Gov. Susana Martinez is scheduled to sign legislation that would prohibit texting while operating a vehicle Sunday afternoon. Martinez will...
Georgia Recovers $1M from Drivers, Insurers for Damage to State Property
Feb 27 2014 // State transportation officials say an initiative to recover money to pay for damage to state property in traffic accidents has netted the agency more than $1 million. GDOT officials say annual damages to state property —...
Tennessee Court Says Police May Still Arrest Drivers Who Pass Sobriety Test
Feb 25 2014 // Police may still have grounds to arrest people for DUI even if they pass field sobriety tests, the Tennessee Supreme Court said in a ruling. The decision involved a Sevier County man whose driving under the influence (DUI...
Oklahoma Senate Committee OKs Texting and Driving, School Zone Cell Phone Bills
Feb 21 2014 // The Oklahoma Senate Public Safety Committee has approved legislative measures that would ban texting while driving, as well as the use of cell phones while driving in school zones. Senate Bill 442, by Sen. Ron Sharp, would...
Stricter Texting While Driving Measure Advances in Iowa
Feb 20 2014 // Iowa lawmakers granted initial approval of a bill that would further crack down on texting while driving by allowing officers to pull over motorists suspected of that sole offense. A three-member Senate transportation...
Vermont House Passes Driver-Cellphone Ban
Feb 20 2014 // The Vermont House has passed and sent to the Senate a bill banning the use of hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices while driving. The measure got preliminary approval and final House passage on Feb. 14 after...
