COLUMBUS --  An Ohio Senate panel has passed a bill to ban teen drivers in the state from using their cellphones, iPads or other electronic devices unless there's an emergency.

Senators approved the bill on a 6-3 vote Wednesday after they added the restrictions on teens to a bill that also aims to prohibit Ohioans from texting while driving.

Minors could have hands-free, GPS navigation devices.

Revisions by the state Senate transportation committee would make texting with handheld devices a secondary offense for adults.

That means drivers could be ticketed for typing emails or instant messages only if they were pulled over for another offense, such as running a red light.

The bill now heads to the full state Senate, where a vote is expected Thursday.

The House passed an earlier version.

 

 

By ANN SANNER Associated Press

 

The Associated Press