Oklahoma House Committee Approves Texting Ban

Texting would be banned in school zones and for motorists under the age of 18 under legislation approved by an Oklahoma House committee.

The measure by Rep. Danny Morgan of Prague was approved 9-7 by the House Public Safety Committee and sent to the full House for consideration.

Morgan says statistics show that the practice of using hand-held devices to compose and send text messages is dangerous when done behind the steering wheel of a moving car. Law enforcement authorities say it has led to numerous fatal crashes in the state.

But some committee members questioned how police officers will enforce the measure. Rep. Fred Jordan of Jenks suggested the measure is not needed because laws already on the books permit officers to pull over vehicles that are weaving.