FW: Texting Bill Hits a Little Bump in the Road

[Mike Flenniken]

Good Morning Fellow Cyclists!

If you want to see safer cycling in Oklahoma... This is your chance to make a huge difference. See message below:  (If you don't get the attachment, let me know at mi...@alethosconsulting.com and I will send it to you.)

Thanks for your support,

Mike

Mike Flenniken

Past President, Oklahoma Bicycling Coalition

2618 Treece Rd, NE

Piedmont, OK 73078-9225

(405) 613-9767

From: Chuck Mai [mailto:chuc...@aaaok.org] Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 8:56 AM To: Undisclosed Subject: Texting Bill Hits a Little Bump in the Road

Good  morning,

As you probably have heard, our primary texting bill, Rep. Curtis McDaniel’s House Bill 1503, has hit a snag. The House Calendar Committee saw fit to table it yesterday and not allow it to go on to the full House for consideration.  It is not dead, just on life support.  We have until March 14 to convince key legislators to give the bill a chance.  I have listed them, below.  Here, also, are links to the stories on the HCC action that ran in this morning’s Oklahoman and Tulsa World.  They are both the same (The Oklahoman’s writer Michael McNutt wrote a good, balanced piece, in my view) – I am including the World’s so you can see the comment at the end:

OKLAHOMAN:  http://newsok.com/oklahoma-measure-to-ban-texting-while-driving-hits-roadblock-goes-off-road/article/3760051

TULSA WORLD:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20130301_16_A7_OKLAHO902722

Frank Chambers of our group has written a very good letter to Speaker Shannon – he gave me permission to send it to you – it’s attached.

Key Legislative Contacts We Need To Zero-In On:

House Speaker T.W. Shannon – tw.sh...@okhouse.gov – 405-557-7374 – he’s from Lawton

Rep. Pam Peterson (chairwoman of the House Calendar Committee and Majority Floor Leader) – pampe...@okhouse.gov (no dot between pam and peterson) – 405-557-7341 – she’s from Tulsa

Rep. Fred Jordan (member of HCC and ardent opposer of texting bills – he singlehandedly killed the bill two years ago) – fred....@okhouse.gov – 405-557-7331 – he’s from Jenks

Rep. Jason Murphey (also a member of the HCC and opposed to a texting ban) – jason....@okhouse.gov – 405-557-7350 – he’s from Guthrie

Rep. Josh Cockroft (HCC member; opposed to texting ban) – josh.c...@okhouse.gov – 405-557-7349 – he’s from Tecumseh

I will be at the Capitol this Tuesday morning walking the halls with OHP Chief Kerry Pettingill (who did a superb job at Wednesday’s news conference) and we’ll be talking with these guys addressing the enforceability issue along with the “a texting ban would infringe on my personal liberties and ‘rights’ behind the wheel” argument.

I still think we have a pretty good shot at getting HB 1503 passed – IF we can get it past the House Calendar Committee.  Now’s the time to rally the troops and pull out all the stops!

Thanks so much for your steadfast support on this vital issue!

Chuck Mai

VP, Public Affairs

AAA OK

405-753-8040 – o

405-209-8260 – c

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