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Texting Ban, Teen Restrictions Clears Ohio Senate
By: Associated Press
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The Ohio Senate has passed a bill that aims to keep cellphones, iPads or other electronic devices out of the hands of teen drivers when they are behind the wheel.
The Senate passed the measure on a 25-8 vote Thursday after a panel loosened a proposed statewide texting ban on adult drivers.
The bill would make texting with hand-held devices a secondary offense for adults, much like not wearing seatbelts. That means drivers could be ticketed for typing emails or instant messages only if they were pulled over for another offense, such as running a red light.
Minors could have hands-free, GPS navigation devices. But they couldn't use other devices unless there's an emergency.
The House overwhelmingly passed an earlier version, and would now have to vote on these changes.