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A ban on hand-held cellphone use while driving? The public, highway patrol, PTA and insurers want it. Lawmakers reject it in first hearing.

Citing concerns that it may infringe on personal liberty or simply be ineffective, lawmakers slammed the brakes Friday on a bill to clearly ban the use of hand-held cellphones while driving.

That occurred despite a long line of groups testifying in support: the Utah Highway Patrol, the Utah Safety Office, the Utah PTA and car insurance companies. Also a new poll by The Salt Lake Tribune and the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of politics found that three of every four Utahns favor the bill.

“It’s a difficult balance to strike between public safety and personal rights and liberties,” said Rep.