Texting-while-driving prohibition passes Florida Senate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 16 (UPI) -- The state Senate in Florida, one of only five states without a texting-while-driving ban, unanimously approved legislation Tuesday to outlaw the activity.

The bill, SB 52, was sent to the House, which hasn't held a vote on the issue in previous years.

The proposed law would make texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning a motorist would have to commit a different offense, such as careless driving, to be pulled over. Once stopped, the driver could then receive more than one ticket, The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday.

"Everyone is in support of this bill. The general public supports it by 89 percent," said Republican Sen. Nancy Detert, who has sponsored the bill for four years.