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Texting While Driving Ban Headed To Senate, House Floors

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – After clearing its final committee hurdle on Monday, a bill that would ban texting while driving is headed to the Senate floor.

Both the Senate version of the bill and House version, which is going to the floor there, make texting while driving a secondary offense. That means police would have to stop a driver for a primary offense before they could be cited for texting while driving.

A first time violation would be a $30 fine plus court costs. Drivers caught again within five years would be hit with a $60 fine and three points on their license.

"Hopefully, we've gone beyond public support into public frustration that we haven't passed something," said Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, the bill's sponsor. "I think this is the year."

In the past four years, texting while driving ban bills have failed under Republican opposition due to government intrusion concerns.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

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