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Tougher Texting While Driving Law Proposed

November 29, 2016 / 7:35 AM EST / CBS Miami

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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - A Broward Democrat wants lawmakers to toughen the state's law on texting while driving in 2017.

Rep. Richard Stark, from Weston, has filed a bill that would allow police to pull over drivers for texting while driving. Similar proposals in the past have repeatedly been rejected.

Under current law, motorists can only be cited for texting while driving if they have been pulled over for other reasons --- what is known as a "secondary" offense.

Stark's bill would also double fines for texting while driving in designated school zones or school crossings.

The bill is filed for the session that will start in March.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.