Cavitt weighs in on driving, state bird, Open Meetings Act
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ALPENA -- State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, who represents Northeast Michigan recently voted against a proposed amendment to the state's distracted driving law that could make talking on a cell phone while driving a crime.
Drivers could still talk on their phones using a hands-free connection.
House Bill 4250 passed 68-39 will now be considered by the state Senate, and Cavitt believes it will pass in the Democrat-led chamber and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
There would be a $100 civil fine for first-time offenders and/or 16 hours of community service. Each following offense would increase the penalty to $250 fines for each subsequent violation, and/or 24 hours of community service.
Fines would be doubled if the penalty occurs during a car crash. Drivers of school buses and commercial vehicles would pay $200 for the first violation and $500 for every subsequent offense, and double if they occur in a car crash.
Cavitt said he supports current laws on the book that outlaw texting while driving, but he added that mandating that people don't talk on their phone while driving has an impact on people who don't drive cars or trucks equipped with Bluetooth technology and can't afford purchasing smartphones or hands-free conversion kits.
He said he also has concerns that the regulation could lead to aggressive law enforcement, especially in urban areas. Cavitt said newer cars have technology such as touch screens, which require drivers to take their focus off the road, but they weren't addressed in the proposed amendment.
"There are a lot of people, especially in this district, that don't necessarily have the funds to buy these hands-free devices and I think it is discriminatory against our urban and rural poor," he said. "Look at some of the screens they put in these new vehicles. Those are just as distractive and like having a television set right there in front of you."
Cavitt said the bill will likely pass in the Senate, but it will require a two-thirds vote to go into immediate effect.
"If they don't get that it will probably get pushed out a year and could get amended again," he said.
Other issues on the horizon include an effort to change the state bird from the robin to the Kirtland's Warbler.
Cavitt says he supports the effort because the bird is making a rebound in Michigan, after being on the endangered species list. Cavitt said the population of the bird has increased and now Northeast Michigan is a hotspot for them. He said they are a favorite for birdwatchers who travel to the area hoping to get a peek at one.
Cavitt said the state invested a lot of money to improve the habitat to strengthen the population of the Kirtland's Warbler and the results have been a success.
"It is probably our most famous bird as far as successful stories with the DNR and we have certainly spent a lot of money trying to please that guy," he said. "It is a Michigan success story and we really put our money where our mouth is and it's great to see them making a comeback."
Although it isn't being addressed in the state House now, in the Senate there is an effort to amend the Open Meetings Act and allow government officials to vote remotely and not in-person like they are required to now.
Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, D-Eastpointe, sent a letter to her fellow senators on May 3, seeking someone to co-sponsor the bill that would allow elected local and state officials to debate, discuss, and vote from outside an open forum, via videoconference apps such as Zoom.
Cavitt said if a bill seeking a change to the Open Meetings Act for that reason came before the House, it would not have his support because, he said, members of the state Legislature are paid to be there in person and work with others, which requires them to be there in person.
"I can't support that at all," Cavitt said. "It is an obligation to be there and a commitment we made to our constituents. We were sent to Lansing to represent the people and we need to be on the floor talking with our colleagues. I'm afraid using Zoom is a slippery slope and soon we would have government by television."