By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI – The Legislature could send a texting-while-driving ban to Governor Granholm's desk this week. Lawmakers have been negotiating the issue for weeks, and say they're close to a deal. A state Senate vote is expected Tuesday. And the House is expected to follow on Wednesday.
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Some lawmakers say they don't want police officers to be able to stop drivers for texting behind the wheel. They say that could be used as a tool for police harassment. Making texting a secondary offense would only allow the police to write a texting ticket if a driver was stopped for something else. Another option would be to phase in full enforcement of a texting ban over several years.
State Senator Roger Kahn says he'll accept any version.
"The goal is to get this moving along and on the governor's desk and passed. I want protections for our people to begin," Kahn says.
Kahn says passing a law would send the message that people should not be reading or writing text messages while driving - even if there's only a small risk of getting a ticket.