Lawmakers Ban Texting While Driving

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A bill headed to Mississippi Gov. Haley
Barbour would ban new teenage drivers from sending text messages
from behind the wheel.
Senators originally killed the final version of the bill
Tuesday, but they passed it when it came up for a second vote
Wednesday.
The bill says a new driver caught texting could face a
misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $500. If there's an accident
while someone is texting, the fine would be up to $1,000.
The bill also would add six months to the minimum age for
teenagers to get their driver's licenses. The intermediate license,
allowing some unsupervised driving, would become available at 16.
An unrestricted license could be obtained six months later.
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The bill is Senate Bill 2280.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)