Michigan House passes ban on most handheld cell phone use while driving

Drivers with repeated violations would have to attend state-mandated education course

Language that would have allowed 90-day license suspension was removed after backlash

LANSING — A measure to toughen the state’s distracted driving law and mandate hands-free devices cleared the Michigan House on Tuesday after the harshest penalties — 90-day license suspensions for repeat offenders — were removed.

The three-bill package would prohibit drivers from using hand-held electronic devices to call, text, record or view videos or access social media, among other things. An earlier version — deemed too punitive by some — was withdrawn last week after it failed to receive enough votes.

“The big argument against the license

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