A legislative committee has voted to ban text messaging while driving in Alabama.

The House Public Safety Committee approved a bill by Rep. Jim McClendon on Thursday without any dissent.

That bill drew support from the National Safety Council. It would levy a $25 fine for a first violation. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. The Republican representative from Springville says the bill has a good chance of passing because people see text messaging as a dangerous distraction.

The Public Safety Committee killed another bill by McClendon that would have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.