The South Dakota Senate has passed a measure that would ban texting while driving.
Senators voted 24-9 to approve the bill and send it to the House, which has rejected similar bills in recent years.
Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia already ban texting behind the wheel.
The bill would prohibit typing, sending or reading a text message while driving, but it would continue to allow drivers to make cellphone calls and use hands-free electronic devices.
The bill's main sponsor, Sen. Mike Vehle of Mitchell, says a texting ban might be difficult to enforce, but a law would stop most people from texting while driving simply because it would be illegal.
Opponents say there's no need to ban texting because existing law already outlaws careless driving.
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