Lawmakers wary of banning cell-phone use by motorists ignored a bill Tuesday that would have required drivers who want to talk behind the wheel to use hands-free sets.

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, proposed making use of handsets by drivers a secondary offense, allowing citations after motorists are pulled over for other offenses. She acknowledged research suggesting that hands-free conversations are just as distracting, but said fumbling with a phone provides an extra hazard.

"You can make a big improvement in safety if people have both hands on the wheel," she told the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.

The committee voted 6-3 to move on without taking a vote on HB248. Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, said the bill does nothing to advance safety because careless driving already is a secondary offense and officers can invoke it for cell-phone users.

"The bill would make no change in our law," he said.

Last week, the same committee forwarded to the House floor another bill that would ban text messaging while driving, with Wimmer voting against it.

Brandon Loomis