State may ban texting while driving

SPRINGFIELD—As tempting as it is to send a text or instantly update friends on Facebook, it might soon be illegal to do behind the wheel. The Illinois House has approved a ban on sending text messages while driving, and the proposal could surface in the state Senate soon.

Here's a look at the proposed ban and what drivers should know about it:

Q: What would be banned?

A: Composing, reading or sending messages while driving. That includes text messages, instant messages and e-mails from your cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic communication device. The ban also includes logging onto the Internet, so updating Twitter and Facebook pages would be a big no-no. The same goes for downloading ring tones.

Q: What if I'm sitting at a red light?

A: Still illegal, under the ban. You would have to pull off the road and park if you want to send a message. Then you could text until your thumbs go numb.

Q: Can I get pulled over for texting?

A: You bet. Under this proposal, police officers can stop you just because they think you're texting or surfing the Internet, according to Rep. John D'Amico, D-Chicago, who sponsored the bill. If they see you constantly looking down at your phone and you never put it up to your ear, they'll assume you're probably not making a phone call.

Q: What happens if I get caught?

A: You can get a ticket, much like you do for speeding. The fine would range from $75 to $500, according to the Secretary of State's office. Because distracted driving is a moving violation, it would go on your driving record. Three strikes and you could lose your license.

Q: What if I wasn't texting or surfing the net when I got pulled over?

A: It would be pretty easy to prove you weren't doing anything wrong, says one supporter of the ban, Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville. Simply show the judge your cell phone records and they'll see if you were texting or surfing around the time police pulled you over.

Q: What if I can send texts without even looking at the keypad?

A: Even so, you're taking your hand off the wheel and you're not thinking about driving, lawmakers say. "There's just too much going on in the driver's seat," Black says.

He, along with other legislators and the Secretary of State's office spent months talking to experts about distracted driving after a 25-year-old man riding his bicycle near Urbana was killed by a teenage driver busy downloading ring tones. That inspired this legislation.

Q: What if I'm typing in an address on my GPS?

A: You can still type information into your global positioning system while you drive. Same goes if you have a GPS feature on your cell phone, assuming you're only using it to navigate.

Q: What if it's an emergency?

A: If you're texting messages to emergency personnel, you're fine. But no dice if you're trying to text your sister about a family emergency or e-mail your boss that you're running late. In that case, you should probably just call.

Q: Are there any other exceptions?

A: Only if you're an on-duty police officer or a commercial driver reading from a system permanently installed in your vehicle.

Q: Do other states ban drivers from texting?

A: Yep. Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, and Washington plus Washington, D.C. Nine other states ban new drivers from texting, too.

Q: What are the odds this texting ban becomes law?

A: Pretty good. The bill passed the House 89-27 and now awaits a vote in the Senate where the president is a big fan of traffic safety.

Q: Why do lawmakers want to ban texting but not using cell phones?

A: That may be the next step. Chicago, for instance, already bars drivers from making phone calls unless they use a hands-free or voice-activiated device.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a crash is four times more likely if you're on a cell phone. Black says he expects to see a push to create a statewide ban on drivers using cell phones, but that won't happen this year.