MONTG0OMERY, Ala. (AP) - Members of the Alabama House and Senate overwhelmingly say they favor a bill to ban drivers from sending
text messages while driving.

In an Associated Press survey, 84 percent of House members responding and 79 percent of senators said they favor a bill to ban drivers from text messaging while driving.

Republican Rep. Jim McClendon of Springville has prefiled the bill that would fine a driver $25 for a first conviction from texting while driving. A driver would be fined $50 for a second conviction and $75 for each subsequent violation.

If the bill receives final passage and is signed by Gov. Bob Riley, Alabama would join 19 states that currently ban texting while driving.