State Lawmakers Consider Texting While Driving Ban

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) – State Senator Nancy Detert (R-Venice) hopes the third time will be the charm as she sponsors yet another bill that would ban texting while behind the wheel.

Florida is just one of fifteen states which does not have a ban on texting while driving. In recent years, bills that would have banned drivers from texting passed in the Senate but died in the House, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.

The measure, being proposed by Detert, would make texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning law enforcement couldn't pull over drivers just because of that. They could only be cited for texting behind the wheel if they were given a ticket a primary offense such as speeding or reckless driving.

During the measure's first committee meeting hearing last week, senators gave it a pass to go forward.

According to the American Automobile Association, 95% of Americans say texting while driving is wrong and nearly nine out of ten say it should be against the law.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)