Missouri
Hands-free cell phone law for all ages starts for Missouri drivers on August 28
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Several new Missouri laws signed by Governor Mike Parson will go into effect on August 28th including one that affects every driver in the state.
It’s the hands-free/no texting law to try and curtail cell phone use behind the wheel.
You see it everywhere and have probably done it yourself at some point. Many of us have missed a chance to make it through a light because a driver with their heads buried in a cell phone didn’t move with the traffic flow or even worse we’ve witnessed a distracted driver cause an accident.
But on August 28th Missouri will become the 49th state to prohibit manually texting-and-driving and the 28th state to require hands-free use for drivers of all ages, a change to a current law that only applied to those under the age of 21.
“That really sent the wrong message to drivers that once you reach a certain age you can safely multitask behind the wheel,” said Nick Chabarria, a spokesman with AAA that’s been heavily involved in supporting the law. “But we know that distracted driving and drunk driving have a lot in common. Nearly 200,000 crashes have occurred in Missouri and more than 800 people killed over the last decade due to distracted driving.”
So what can and can’t you do under the new Missouri law?
As a driver you cannot:
— Physically hold or support a cell phone with any part of their body
— Manually type write, send or read text-based messages
— Record, post, send or broadcast video (including video calls or social media posts)
— Watch a video or movie
As a driver you can:
— Send or receive text-based communication through voice-to-text features
— Use cell phone GPS navigation and music or podcast functions
— Talk on the phone using hands-free features like built-in phone speaker, in-car Bluetooth or ear bud/headset
— Place or receive voice calls using voice-operated or hands-free functions that can be engaged/disengaged with a single touch or swipe
“The easiest way to put it is if you’re holding your phone in your hand up to your ear or holding it out in front of you, that is illegal under the new law,” Chabarria explained. “You can still use your phone mounts and you can still use hands-free technology.”
Just like Missouri’s seat belt laws though, cell phone usage is a secondary offense, meaning you have to be pulled over for something else initially before you can be ticketed for a phone violation. Missouri, Nebraska and Alabama are the only three states where it is not a primary violation.
“It was an amendment that was added and one that was really needed to get this law across the finish line,” Chabarria pointed out. “Ultimately we’d eventually like to see primary enforcement where you could be stopped for having your phone in your hand.”
Fines start at $150 and increase to $500 for repeat offenders (within a two year period). But those fines won’t be implemented until January, 2025.
“That gives time for law enforcement to educate the public on the new law,” Chabarria said. “The intent of the law was never to catch people in-the-act or fine them. The intent of the law is to really change driver behavior here in Missouri.”
And that behavior change has been working in other states.
“In Georgia, for example, in 2018 they passed a similar hands-free law and in the first 18 months they saw roadway fatalities drop seven percent,” Chabarria said. “That is significant but also in the first month of the new law phone usage behind the wheel dropped 22 percent.”
Among other laws going into effect on August 28th:
–Postpartum Medicaid change where lower-income new mothers will get a full year of Medicaid healthcare
— Pending approval by the federal government, workers who are on welfare who receive raises no longer will be cut off from food stamps and welfare benefits. The new law would allow reduced aid proportionate to workers’ raises. The idea is that taking away benefits punishes workers for getting promoted, which might encourage people to stay in lower-earning jobs
— Regarding senior-age Missouri residents Social Security benefits will no longer be taxed by the state (Missouri was one of only 11 states with a separate state tax on Social Security) and counties are now allowed to approve property tax breaks for people age 65-and-older
However, the specifics of that property tax law are unclear and causing confusion so you may not see that soon.
“I don’t sense that there’s any hesitancy on the part of my colleagues here in Greene County to implement this,” said Greene County Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon. “But the big question for us is, what are we implementing and how are we supposed to do it?”
Stay tuned. The answers may be coming from the courts.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com
Copyright 2023 KY3. All rights reserved.
The Missouri Tigers 2024 season will come to an end on Thanksgiving weekend when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks.
This will be a crucial year for the future of the Arkansas program. Head coach Sam Pittman’s job will likely be at stake if a 4-8 season in 2023 is followed up by another disappointment. Here’s an early look at the 2024 Razorbacks.
The Arkansas offense was the second-worst in total yards per game (326.5) last year in the SEC and fifth-worst in points per game (26.6). There’s few reasons to believe the Razorbacks will take any major steps offensively in 2024.
In a hope to right the ship offensively, Arkansas hired a familiar face in Bobby Petrino. The hiring of the long-time coach will certainly make the team more interesting and entertaining but he’ll have a big challenge to help the Arkansas offense take a step forward.
Arkansas will also have a new starting quarterback in Boise State transfer Taylen Green after KJ Jefferson transferred to UCF. Green has started the past two seasons for Boise State and threw for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games in 2023.
Arkansas returned most starters at running back and wide receiver but no rusher besides Jefferson tallied over 300 yards last year and only Andrew Armstrong eclipsed 400 receiving yards. Armstrong, entering his sophomore season, could grow into more of a weapon this season at 6’4″ and 201 lbs.
The Arkansas offensive line had its struggles in 2023, allowing the most sacks in the conference in 2023. This season, the Razorbacks are expected to have two transfers starting along the line.
Arkansas did add some exciting players to their skill position groups through the portal, however. Four-star running back Ja’Quinden Jackson comes over from Utah while three-star receiver Jordan Anthony joins the team after two seasons at Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks’ 2023 defense was close to the middle of the pack in yards per game (eighth, 357.12) but its 27.9 points per game was the second-worst. In SEC play, Arkansas allowed 32.3 points per game.
But defensive coordinator Travis Williams did help the Razorbacks make some big strides in his first season. In 2022, Arkansas ranked No. 124 in the nation with 465.2 yards per game. In the first year under Williams, the defense jumped to No. 80. There’s reason to believe Williams will continue to steer his unit in the right direction.
In contrast to its offensive line, the defensive line was one of Arkansas’ best units in 2023. The Razorbacks had 41 tackles for loss and 29 total sacks in 2023. The group is led by Landon Jackson, a First Team All-SEC member in 2023 after compiling 6.5 sacks and 44 total tackles. The group possibly became stronger this offseason with the addition of Anton Juncaj, rated as the No. 12 defensive lineman available in the portal.
The Razorbacks did lose productive linebacker Chris Paul Jr. to Ole Miss through the portal but did add linebacker Xavier Sorey Jr. from Georgia in hopes to replace Paul’s presence over the middle of the field.
The Tigers will have to stay present on this late-November game instead of being distracted by the approaching selection day, set for the following Sunday. Rivalry week is always full of surprises and upsets. With Missouri expected to be in playoff contention, Arkansas could have a chance to play spoiler.
Missouri will be coming off of a two-week road trip with stops at South Carolina and Mississippi State. Arkansas, however, will be coming off three-straight home games ahead of the road trip. In the preceding week, the Razorbacks will be hosting Louisiana Tech.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 30
Time: Afternoon window (2:30-3:30 kickoff)
Location: Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri
Series History: Missouri leads 11-4
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2023: The Tigers saved a feast for the day after Thanksgiving, closing out a historic regular season with its highest scoring performance of the season in a 48-14 thrashing in Arkansas. The Tigers scored 41 unanswered points in the first thre e quarters before pulling their starters in the final quarter. Running back Cody Schrader decimated the Razorback defense, gaining a combined total of 220 yards and rushing for one touchdown.
Head Coach: Sam Pittman, entering his fifth season with Arkansas.
Offensive Coordinator: Bobby Petrino, hired by Arkansas in November of 2023, entering his 42nd year in coaching.
Defensive Coordinator: Travis Williams, entering his second season with Arkansas. Former All-SEC Second Team linebacker with Auburn.
2023 Record: 4-8 (1-7)
Biggest Question: Will Pittman’s trust in Petrino be validated by a productive offense? Pittman’s job could depend on it.
National Championships: 1 (1964)
Conference Championships: 13 (all in the SWC)
Bowl Record: 17-24-3
Last Bowl Appearance: 2022 Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas – 55-53 Win in 3OT
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Missouri
Lucas says taxpayers will lose if Kansas and Missouri engage in incentive competition for Chiefs, Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The fight over the future home of the Chiefs and Royals continues.
On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson said he expects the state to produce an aid package to keep the teams in the Show Me State by the end of the year Missouri governor says he expects public aid plan to keep Chiefs, Royals in state.
This comes after Kansas put together a plan last week to try bring both teams to its side of the state line. Kansas is offering to pay for up to 70 percent of the cost of two new stadiums over 30 years through sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds.
Gov. Parson did not provide specifics of what Missouri’s deal for the teams would look like, but he’s confident Missouri will win out.
“Missouri’s in a much better financial shape than Kansas is, but it depends on how much you want to tie up for a 25- to 40-year lease with a team,” Parson said. “I don’t know what that amount will be, but I think Missouri is in a much better position than what Kansas’ bonds are.”
Locally, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the city and state never stopped talking to the teams. He is glad to see Missouri start to act at the state level.
“We’ve known all along that Missouri would continue to be competitive. The city of Kansas City will, as well,” said Lucas. “The Chiefs and Royals belong in Kansas City, Missouri.”
READ MORE: Discussions of new sales tax proposal for Chiefs stadium delayed by Jackson County legislators
Lucas thinks the state of Missouri may need to get involved in the stadium discussion as it may be an economic pool too deep for the city to swim in.
“The state of Kansas threw out some fairly extensive tools. I don’t know to what extent they are ones that could ever work objectively,” Lucas said. “I think that when we are talking about the size of particularly a football stadium, the tens of thousands of parking spots, the expense, the billions of dollars, we owe it to our taxpayers in Kansas City to make sure that conversation gets beyond just the 508,000 people in Kansas City and is something far more extensive.”
Lucas sees Kansas’ STAR bond legislation as a clear violation of the border war truce between Kansas and Missouri. He says the failed vote in Jackson County doesn’t mean the state of Missouri wants the teams to leave.
READ MORE: Pasquantino hits go-ahead sacrifice fly as Royals rally to beat AL Central-rival Guardians, 2-1
“The border war truce was about not using economic development tools to poach a business from another jurisdiction that has been there for a long time. The Chiefs and Royals have been in Missouri for years. There are economic tools being used to steal them,” said Lucas. “Jackson County alone does not speak for the entire state of Missouri or the city of Kansas City, and those discussions are ongoing.”
Now, Lucas fears Kansas’ STAR bond legislation will start an arms race of incentives to keep the teams in the metro – to the franchises’ benefit, and not to metropolitan Kansas City as a whole.
“I think what people of our community will see, for better or worse, is competing incentives,” Lucas said. “Usually when you have a battle like that, it’s only the taxpayers who lose. That’s what happens in battles like this, but we’ll still work to get to the best deals possible.”
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – A 50-year-old Missouri man was seriously injured Thursday morning in a single-vehicle crash on a rural highway.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said 50-year-old Ronald Watson of Leeton, Mo., was seriously injured after crashing his motorcycle on Missouri Highway 23 at Route WW.
While attempting to drive around a curve, Watson activated the clutch instead of the brake on the motorcycle, causing the bike to overturn, MSHP officials said in a crash report.
The crash happened shortly after 6:15 a.m. Thursday. According to the crash report, Watson was wearing a helmet.
He was ejected from the bike after the bike overturned and skid off the right side of the highway.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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