TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida lawmakers have passed a statewide ban on texting while driving.
The Senate passed a bill (SB 52) on Thursday by 39-1. Republican Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart was the only no vote.
The House approved it earlier this week but added a provision allowing police to use drivers' mobile phone records against them only when texting causes a crash resulting in death or personal injury. That change required it to come back to the Senate.
Bill sponsor Sen. Nancy Detert said she decided "not to let the perfect get in the way of the possible" and agreed to the late amendment.
The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Scott's desk. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia already have texting-while-driving bans for all drivers.
