(Continued from page 19)

other violation.
• South Dakota joins 33 other states and the District of Columbia in banning cellphone use by novice drivers. The measure was suggested by a task force set up by the Legislature to find ways to reduce teen traffic crashes and the resulting injuries and deaths.
• Sen. Craig Tieszen, R-Rapid City, head of the task force, said the cellphone ban is a good first step in reducing teen traffic accidents.
• "I think it will send the right message and at some point maybe we can consider other measures that would improve teen driving in South Dakota," Tieszen said.
• Daugaard initially opposed the measure setting up a commission to regulate boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts because he said mixed martial arts fights are too violent to be called sport.
• When the governor signed the bill Wednesday, he issued a letter to lawmakers explaining that he decided that regulating fights for safety was better than them occurring without regulation.
• "I believe mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions are gratuitously violent, and I regret that MMA activities occur in our state," he wrote.
• The measure's main sponsor, Sen. Mark Johnston, R-Sioux Falls, said South Dakota is one of the last states to regulate such fights. Fights already occur in South Dakota, but regulation will protect the safety of fighters and encourage promoters to stage events in the state, he said.
•