A new bill moving to the governor’s desk will put stricter punishment on drivers found to be texting while driving, according to a press release.

The legislation, if passed, would classify first-time texting while driving offenses as  moving violations. The violation would be added to the motorist’s driving record and they would also be charged a fine in court.. Furthermore, a driver convicted of three moving violations within a year would be subject to license suspension.

“This important legislation will make our roads safer and I urge the governor to sign it into law. No driver should be texting while driving,” Secretary of State Jesse White said in the release.

Distracted driving is defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as  anything that diverts the driver’s attention from the main task of driving and responding to critical events on the roadway. Distractions like texting can be visual, cognitive or manual.

According to the NHTSA, driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated, making it one of the most deadly forms of distracted driving.

Staff writer Hannah Smith can be reached at [email protected]

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