Oklahoma would become the 45th state to ban texting while driving under a bill that has unanimously cleared a Senate committee.
The Senate Public Safety Committee voted 9-0 Thursday for the bill that would impose a fine of up to $100 for any driver caught using a mobile phone to compose, send or read a text message while driving. The bill is one of several similar measures being considered in the Legislature this year.
Republican Sen. Don Barrington of Lawton says the bill would make texting while driving a secondary offense, which means a police officer would have to initiate a stop for some other traffic violation. The bill also makes exceptions for "imminent emergency situations." It now heads to the full Senate.
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