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AAA: Drivers In Philadelphia, Suburbs Worst 'Texting While Driving' Offenders

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's no texting while driving law is now one year old, and a look at statistics shows that Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs are responsible for most of the citations in the state.

Testing while driving is a primary offense in Pennsylvania, meaning police can pull you over just for texting. The fine is $50.

Jenny Robinson of AAA Mid-Atlantic says that doesn't appear to be a deterrent for many.

"Being that Philadelphia is the largest city in the state, the most population, there are the most tickets for texting while driving. So in the past year, the law took effect March 8th of 2012, and since that time, Philadelphia police have issued 243 total citations."

Robinson says it's not just texting that is covered by the law either.

"The Pennsylvania law also covers really anything else you're going to do with the phone, so you can also be pulled over if you're instant messaging, browsing the Internet, checking your e-mail, doing any of those things from your wireless device. So, that could be, for example, a tablet as well as a cell phone."

She says, however, there is a learning curve involved. The state's seat belt law went into effect in the 1980's and people are still learning to buckle up. She believes people will learn that they cannot text while driving, eventually.

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