2017 Montana Legislature

HOUSE BILL NO. 562

INTRODUCED BY C. KNUDSEN, M. BLASDEL, M. HOPKINS, D. JONES, A. KNUDSEN, T. MANZELLA, D. MORTENSEN, A. ROSENDALE, R. SHAW, D. SKEES

AN ACT EXEMPTING CERTAIN USES OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES WHILE DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE FROM LOCAL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 7-14-4116, 61-8-103, AND 61-12-101, MCA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 7-14-4116, MCA, is amended to read:

"7-14-4116. No authority to require fee and permit for oversize vehicles Limits on authority -- vehicle loads -- electronic communications devices -- penalties. (1) The authority to regulate trafficways and motor vehicles provided in this part does not include the authority to:

(a) require a fee and a permit for the movement of a vehicle, combination of vehicles, load, object, or other thing of a size exceeding the maximum specified in 61-10-101 through 61-10-104 on a highway that is maintained by and under the jurisdiction of an entity other than the city or town; or

(b) subject to subsection (2), enact or enforce an ordinance, rule, or regulation that restricts or prohibits the use of a mobile electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle unless the ordinance, rule, or regulation includes an exception that a person may use a mobile electronic communications device to write, type, send, or read a communication while operating a motor vehicle if the vehicle has been driven off or to the side of an active roadway and has stopped in a location where it can safely remain stationary.

(2) If a local authority enacts an ordinance, rule, or regulation pursuant to subsection (1)(b), violation of an ordinance, rule, or regulation that restricts or prohibits the use of a mobile electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $100, community service hours to be performed within the county or municipality in which the person resides, or both.

(3) For the purposes of this section, "mobile electronic communications device" means a handheld portable electronic device capable of providing data communication between two or more people, including a mobile telephone, a cellular, analog, wireless, or digital telephone, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, video gaming equipment, or any other substantially similar communications device."

Section 2. Section 61-8-103, MCA, is amended to read:

"61-8-103. Provisions uniform throughout state -- power of local authorities -- penalties. (1) The provisions of this chapter shall be are applicable and uniform throughout this state and in all political subdivisions and municipalities. therein and no A local authority shall may not enact or enforce any ordinance, rule, or regulation in conflict with the provisions of this chapter unless expressly authorized herein by this chapter. Local Except as provided in subsection (2), local authorities may, however, adopt additional traffic regulations which that are not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), local authorities may not enact or enforce an ordinance, rule, or regulation that restricts or prohibits the use of a mobile electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle unless the ordinance, rule, or regulation includes an exception that a person may use a mobile electronic communications device to write, type, send, or read a communication while operating a motor vehicle if the vehicle has been driven off or to the side of an active roadway and has stopped in a location where it can safely remain stationary.

(3) If a local authority enacts an ordinance, rule, or regulation pursuant to subsection (2), violation of an ordinance, rule, or regulation that restricts or prohibits the use of a mobile electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $100, community service hours to be performed within the county or municipality in which the person resides, or both.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "mobile electronic communications device" means a handheld portable electronic device capable of providing data communication between two or more people, including a mobile telephone, a cellular, analog, wireless, or digital telephone, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, video gaming equipment, or any other substantially similar communications device."

Section 3. Section 61-12-101, MCA, is amended to read:

"61-12-101. Powers of local authorities to regulate traffic -- penalties. (1) The provisions of chapters 8 and 9 do not prevent local authorities with respect to sidewalks, streets, and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power from:

(a) regulating the standing or parking of vehicles;

(b) regulating the traffic by means of police officers or traffic control devices;

(d) designating particular highways as one-way highways and requiring that all vehicles on those highways be moved in one specific direction;

(e) regulating the speed of vehicles in public parks;

(f) designating any highway as a through highway, as defined in 61-8-341, and requiring that all vehicles stop before entering or crossing a through highway and designating any intersection, as defined in 61-8-102, as a stop intersection and requiring all vehicles to stop at one or more entrances to stop intersections;

(g) restricting the use of highways as authorized in 61-10-128(2);

(h) regulating the operation of bicycles or mopeds, as defined in 61-8-102, and requiring the registration and licensing of bicycles or mopeds, including requiring a registration fee;

(i) regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles or specified types of vehicles at intersections;

(j) altering the speed limits as authorized in Title 7, chapter 14, and Title 61, chapter 8;

(k) regulating the operating of a vehicle by a person who is a habitual user of or under the influence of any narcotic drug or who is under the influence of any other drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely operating a vehicle within the incorporated limits of any city or town;

(l) regulating or prohibiting a person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor from operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle within the incorporated limits of a city or town;

(m) regulating or prohibiting the operation of a vehicle by a person in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property within the incorporated limits of a city or town;

(n) enacting as ordinances any provisions of chapter 8 or 9 and any other law regulating traffic, pedestrians, vehicles, and operators of vehicles that are not in conflict with state law or federal regulations and enforcing the ordinances;

(o) regulating the operation of motorized nonstandard vehicles on sidewalks, streets, and highways; and

(p) regulating the operation of golf carts on streets and highways.

(2) The powers of a local authority to regulate traffic do not include:

(a) the power to require a fee and a permit for the movement of a vehicle, combination of vehicles, load, object, or other thing of a size exceeding the maximum specified in 61-10-101 through 61-10-104 on a highway that is under the jurisdiction of an entity other than the local authority; or

(b) subject to subsection (3), the power to enact or enforce an ordinance, rule, or regulation that restricts or prohibits the use of a mobile electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle unless the ordinance, rule, or regulation includes an exception that a person may use a mobile electronic communications device to write, type, send, or read a communication while operating a motor vehicle if the vehicle has been driven off or to the side of an active roadway and has stopped in a location where it can safely remain stationary.

(3) If a local authority enacts an ordinance, rule, or regulation pursuant to subsection (2)(b), violation of an ordinance, rule, or regulation that restricts or prohibits the use of a mobile electronic communications device while operating a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $100, community service hours to be performed in the county or municipality in which the person resides, or both.

- END -

Latest Version of HB 562 (HB0562.ENR)
Processed for the Web on April 26, 2017 (2:34pm)

New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.

Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.

See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.

Status of this Bill | 2017 Legislature | Leg. Branch Home
All versions of this bill (PDF format)
Authorized print version of this bill (PDF format)
[ NEW SEARCH ]

Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064