Text messaging ban closer to being law in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is getting closer to being the 20th state to ban text messaging while driving.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to approve a text messaging ban that had passed the House in January. The same bill died in the committee last year. The committee made some changes in the bill before approving it Wednesday.

The revised bill still makes it against the law to text message while driving, but it requires that a motorist be committing some other offense, such as speeding, before police can stop the vehicle.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Jim McClendon of Springville, said he's fine with the change because that's how Alabama initially enacted a seat belt law. The Legislature made it stronger once people got accustomed to buckling up.