By Stephenie Steitzer
Enquirer contributor

FRANKFORT - Kentucky lawmakers have their eyes on the highways for 2003, and not just road projects.

A Louisville legislator has proposed a ban on cell-phone use while driving, to be introduced in the next legislative session set to officially begin in February.

Limiting cell-phone use to hands-free devices only, Democratic Rep. Reginald Meeks's bill would impose a fine of between $20 and $100 for each offense.

The bill is among 157 others that have already been filed at the Capitol.

But Rep. Jim Callahan, D-Wilder, said most of them won't see the light of day.

"If you don't have a bill that has gotten some kind of exposure up to this point, I think it's going to be difficult to get many new bills through," he said.

Mr. Callahan, chairman of the House majority caucus, said lawmakers will have less than 30 days to debate and vote on legislation.

He said the cell-phone bill has been proposed in the past, but didn't have the necessary support.

"From a pure safety standpoint, it's probably the right thing to do," he said. "Whether there's enough members to put it through, I'm not sure."

Mr. Meeks could not be reached for comment Friday.

Another Louisville representative, Democrat Tom Burch, is sponsoring a bill that would require teens to spend a year driving with seasoned drivers before they could receive their license.

Teens now must spend six months driving with passengers who are 21 or older.

Many states, including Ohio, require teens to log a certain number of hours of supervised driving with their parents. There are no requirements in Indiana.

"A lot of people think it's better to give them more driving experience, more time, before you turn them loose," Mr. Burch said.

Since January 2002, at least 14 Tristate teenagers have died in driving accidents in the region.

Four teenagers suffered life-threatening injuries Tuesday after all four were thrown from their car in a wreck on Interstate 71 in Carroll County.

Mr. Callahan said this bill will probably get a committee hearing, but won't make it through both houses.

Another traffic-related bill that Mr. Callahan said won't make it through the General Assembly is increasing the speed limit to 70 mph on interstates and parkways in counties with less than 75,000 people.

The bill, if passed, would not affect highways in Northern Kentucky counties of Boone, Kenton and Campbell because the population is greater than 75,000.