MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A legislative committee has voted to ban text messaging while driving in Alabama. The House Public Safety Committee approved a bill by Rep. Jim McClendon on Thursday without any dissent. That bill drew support from the National Safety Council. It would levy a $25 fine for a first violation. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. The Republican representative from Springville says the bill has a good chance of passing because people see text messaging as a dangerous distraction. The Public Safety Committee killed another bill by McClendon that would have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

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