"Kelsey's Law" on hold in Lansing
They didn’t take a vote on it. But they might next week. When the House Transportation Committee met in Lansing Wednesday, “Kelsey’s Law” was on the agenda.
The 16 members did not vote on Senate Bill 756, also known as “Kelsey’s Law”, but they each had a short, private conversation with the mother of the teenager for whom the legislation is named.
Sault Ste. Marie 17-year-old Kelsey Raffaele was killed in a car accident in January, 2010. Kelsey was a new driver, talking on her phone when she lost control of her car and crashed. Her family wants a new state law to prevent the use of cell phones by young drivers. Her mother, Bonnie Raffaele, wants the Michigan Graduated License changed for new drivers.
“Kelsey’s Law” has been almost three years in the works.It would prevent drivers with a Level 1 or 2 License from using cell phones in any way while driving: no talking, no texting. The bill was passed in the Senate in March.
Kelsey’s mom is asking that Upper Michigan residents contact State Representative Matt Huuki and the 15 other members of the House Transportation Committee in support of “Kelsey’s Law.”
The committee is to meet again on Tuesday, December 11.