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MI Senate pushes forward with texting ban

By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-898605.mp3

LANSING, MI –

The ban on texting while driving is inching toward completion at the state Capitol. The measure suffered a minor setback, but lawmakers say they think the work could be done this week.

AUDIO:

The Senate sent the final piece of the texting ban bill back to the House, stripping the measure of a Democratic amendment to use money from texting tickets to eliminate driver responsibility fees.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop.

"Really, the reason for the bill in the first place was to ban texting," he says.

The bill now heads back to the House, where Democratic state Representative Lee Gonzales says lawmakers are ready to finalize the work.

"We've got to get to the point that we put this out there as a law, and then get about the business of how will it be enforced."

Gonzales says work could be completed on the texting ban this week.

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