Pa. Passes Texting While Driving Ban

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pennsylvania will join dozens of other states in banning texting while driving.

The bill passed the state Senate Tuesday and Governor Tom Corbett is expected to sign it.

The new law will allow police to pull over drivers who are texting.

It's hard to find anyone who doesn't think texting and driving is dangerous.

"I have a friend whose daughter was in a very serious accident – had her legs broken from somebody who crashed into her that was texting," Marie Latagliata said.

McKees Rocks Police Chief Robert Cifrulak is president of the Western Pennsylvania Police Chiefs Association. He wants all drivers to get the message.

"There's studies that demonstrate that the effect on driving – texting while driving – is as bad if not worse than drinking while driving," Cifrulak said.

He admits the law will be difficult to enforce, but he thinks it will be a strong deterrent.

"If the law is in place then it elevates it amongst parents when they educate their youngsters on driving, you know that this is the law," he said.

The penalty for texting and driving will be $50, but under the new law, police will not have the right to take your cell phone.

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