RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Drivers could be pulled over and ticketed for texting and young drivers could be fined for using cell phones under bills that have passed out of the Senate.
Democratic Senator George Barker's bills would make both primary offenses.
Currently, police can ticket drivers for texting and those with provisional driver's licenses for using cell phones only if they are pulled over for another offense.
The texting bill passed Tuesday on a 28-11 vote. The teen cell phone ban passed 33-to-seven, despite arguments that the bill could lead to innocent drivers being pulled over simply because they look young.
The bills now go to the House of Delegates, which has traditionally killed such legislation.
