Bills would tax high-calorie fast food, outlaw texting while crossing highways

CARSON CITY — Several bills that could generate controversy in future committee hearings, from assessing a 5-cent fee on some fast-food purchases to prohibiting pedestrians from texting while crossing a highway, were introduced Thursday in the Assembly.

Both the fast-food fee in Assembly Bill 122 and the texting ban in Assembly Bill 123 were introduced by Assemblyman Harvey Munford, D-Las Vegas.

Munford said the goal of his fast-food fee is to fight childhood obesity, not raise revenue. He would like to see any revenue generated from the fee directed to public education.

The fee would be assessed on prepared food items with calorie counts of 500 or more.

A fast-food restaurant is defined as a place that sells food intended for immediate consumption that is served primarily in or on disposable wrappers, containers or plates.

Munford said he wants the fee to act as a deterrent and get parents to frequent such establishments less often.

“I’m not denying anybody to once in a while go to a fast-food restaurant,” he said. “It is a discretionary tax. It’s up to the people. They make that choice.”

The prohibition on texting while crossing a highway would result in a warning for the first offense and a $100 fine for the second within seven years.

Another measure, Assembly Bill 117, sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Sprinkle, D-Sparks, would allow motorcyclists and bicycle riders, among others, to proceed through a red light after stopping and waiting a “reasonable” amount of time if the light does not change because of a malfunction.

The measure would still require motorcyclists and bicyclists to yield the right of way to pedestrians and other motorists.

None of the bills has been set for hearing yet.

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.