DOVER, Del. (AP) - House lawmakers are set to vote this week on a bill to toughen penalties for texting or otherwise using a handheld phone while driving.
The legislation to be considered Tuesday increases the penalty for a first offense from $50 to $100. It also increases the penalty for subsequent offenses from between $100 and $200 to between $200 and $300.
The bill initially called for points to be assessed on a person's driver's license for second or subsequent offenses, but a recent amendment strikes that provision.
Gov. Jack Markell has said he would sign the bill, which must also pass the Senate.
Supporters of the bill say many drivers, particularly young people, are ignoring the law, and that existing penalties are not enough to discourage such behavior.
