Jackson Free Press

The first, SB 2280, is about driving for 15 and 16-year-old teens. The bill proposes prohibiting texting and driving by kids with learner's permits or intermediate driver's licenses, and adds six months to their learning curve. The Mississippi House passed the bill yesterday and it is now Senate bound.

The second bill, HB 214, restricts anyone 17-years-old or younger from using an indoor tanning facility without written permission from a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians would need to accompany those 13 or younger and stay at the facility while the child is in a tanning bed, reports WLOX TV. That bill passed the House last month and the Senate yesterday.

Rep. Mary Ann Stevens, D-West, sponsored the bill and said it's getting support from pediatricians and oncologists because of their concerns about young people getting sunburns that could develop into skin cancer.

"A lot of these teenagers, especially people who get in beauty pageants, just get so tan in the tanning beds, not realizing the damage it could do later," Stevens said.

Previous Commentsshow

OK, re the texting. Why not outlaw texting-while-driving for ANYONE, not just teenagers!?! And talking on cell phones while they're at it. More people are going to die because of these practices; why not cut it off at the pass now? Absurd to only apply this to teenagers.

DonnaLadd

Mar 11 2009

Any tanning salon that I've been to has always denied anyone under 18 to tan. That's not the problem in this world. They should pass a bill of importance. Like requesting proof of car insurance before receiving their car tag. You can't get your car tag if you haven't paid your garbage bill. What's that? If everyone was made to have insurance maybe the rates wouldn't be so High. That's what kind of bills everyone needs to be worried about.

jmlm

Mar 11 2009

You can't get your car tag if you haven't paid your garbage bill. Huh? OK, re the texting. Why not outlaw texting-while-driving for ANYONE, not just teenagers!?! And talking on cell phones while they're at it. More people are going to die because of these practices; why not cut it off at the pass now? Absurd to only apply this to teenagers. Not only that, it only apply to teenagers with learner's permits or intermediate licenses. So, a fully-licensed teen can text away along their merry little way. But I agree this should apply to everyone, not just teens. There was train wreck in Los Angeles last year in which the train conductor was believed to have been texting right before the train crashed.

golden eagle

Mar 12 2009

I agree that texting while driving is dangerous but how can this law even be enforced? Plus, there are already laws against distracted and reckless driving. It seems like a monumental waste of time and effort to me.

WMartin

Mar 12 2009