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Updated: 8:41 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012 | Posted: 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Bill bans texting while driving

Gov. Kasich plans to sign bill into law that will have tougher limits on teens.

By Laura A. Bischoff

Staff Photo

COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. John Kasich plans to sign a bill into law that will ban texting while driving and prohibit teen drivers from using any electronic device while behind the wheel.

The Ohio House on Tuesday agreed to Senate changes to the bill and sent the legislation to Kasich’s desk.

Ohio will be the 38th state to ban texting while driving and the first in the country to prohibit drivers younger than 18 from using any electronics device while driving.

“It’ll save lives. That’s the bottom line,” said state Rep. Nancy Garland, D-New Albany, who has been pushing the anti-texting idea for four years. “We have made it illegal to text and drive so a lot of people won’t do it anymore.”

Teen drivers who violate the ban could be fined $150 and receive a 60-day license suspension. For multiple offenses, they face a $300 fine and a one-year license suspension. Exceptions were made for hands-free GPS units and emergency situations.

Lawmakers made the ban against adults texting more lenient. It is a secondary offense, which means they can’t be pulled over solely for texting. Police would have to stop them for some other infraction first.

Kasich Press Secretary Rob Nichols said the governor plans to sign the bill into law soon. It’ll take effect 90 days after the governor files the bill with the secretary of state.

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