The Pennsylvania Senate has approved an amendment to a distracted driving bill that makes texting while driving a primary offense.  That means police could ticket motorists for texting without having to cite them for another driving offense.  
State Senator Andy Dinniman, who represents parts of Montgomery and Chester counties, says most of the people he’s heard from look at it the same way he does.

“Texting is just taking it too far when you are driving a car. You can’t drive safely and text. We need to get that message across by making this a primary offense.”

The bill keeps talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving as a secondary offense.  It would allow talking on the phone with a hands-free device for experienced drivers, but someone with a junior license or learner’s permit would be barred from any phone use while driving.