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Distracted Driving Bill Moves To Pa. House After Passing In Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The ball appears to be in the state house's court now that the senate has approved legislation that would address junior driver and distracted driver issues.

The state senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that was amended Tuesday to make texting and internet usage while driving a primary offense. Talking with a hand-held cell phone in traffic would be a secondary offense, meaning you'd have to be pulled over for another primary offense before being charged.

The house and senate have been bickering for years over the primary-secondary offense issue with regard to distracted driving, with the house generally interested in tougher language than the senate. In fact, the house several weeks ago passed an amendment to a bill that would make both texting and hand-held cell phone use while driving a primary offense, although that bill has not yet been called up for a final vote in the house.

The bill passed by the senate also tightens restrictions for junior drivers, while the house last month passed its own teen driver bill.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

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