HARRISBURG -- State legislators from the Pittsburgh area and elsewhere across Pennsylvania will make a major push to to make texting while driving illegal.

Why? Because it's dangerous -- both to the drivers who become distracted and sloppy while sending text messages, and to other drivers and pedestrians in the area, said Reps. Joe Markosek, D-Monroeville, Paul Costa, D-Wilkins, and others.

"We are all just one text message from eternity," Mr. Markosek said bluntly at a news conference today, as he introduced House Bill 2070. He expects the new measure to be approved by the House Transportation Committee as early as tomorrow and sent to the full House for action. Mr. Markosek is the committee chairman and the bill has bipartisan support, including Rep. Rick Geist, R-Blair, as a co-sponsor.

"This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it's a safety issue," said Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks.

The bill would make texting-while-driving a "primary" offense, meaning police could stop a driver merely if police see him/her texting behind the wheel. Failure to wear a seat belt is a "secondary" offense, meaning an officer can't stop a driver just for not wearing a seat belt, but can add that offense if a driver is stopped for another reason, such as speeding.

The new bill also would prevent teens with drivers' permits or junior licenses (those age 16 and 17) from talking on a cellphone while driving. Adult drivers -- those 18 and older -- would still be allowed to talk on cellphones while behind the wheel, Mr. Markosek said.

There could be an effort to add a ban on drivers using a cellphone when the bill hits the House floor, however.

The penalty for texting while driving would be $50. Mr. Markosek called the bill a compromise, meaning the fine wasn't as high as some legislators would like, but he wants to get the bill through the Legislature as quickly as possible to increase traffic safety. The bill also would prohibit insurance companies from increasing a driver's premium if he/she is found guilty of texting while driving.

The new state law would supercede all local laws on texting, so "we don't end up with a patchwork quilt of laws around the state," Mr. Markosek said.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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