Wisconsin Senate tweaks fines on texting ban before passing bill

Wis. Senate tweaks fines on texting bill

MADISON, Wis. — Banning texting in Wisconsin is still not a done deal in the Legislature.

The state Senate on Tuesday passed the ban on a 30-3 vote, but not before lawmakers changed the fine structure. That means the bill must be passed again in the Assembly before heading to Gov. Jim Doyle for his consideration.

Doyle supports the bill and the Assembly has already passed a similar version.

The Assembly version set fines for first offense at no more than $400 with a second offense up to $800. The Senate on Tuesday changed that to limit all fines to between $20 and $400, the same penalty as inattentive driving.

Under the bill, drivers could not send a text or e-mail message starting seven months after Doyle signs it.

Twenty-one other states ban texting while driving.