SEATTLE - Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed several bills into law this morning that cracks down on cell phone use while driving.

One of the laws would ban hand-held cell phones while driving, effective July 2008. Another law, effective January 2008, would fine people for texting while driving.

Both laws would be secondary offenses. So if you're stopped and an officer determines you're reading, writing or sending a text message, it would be a $101 fine.

"It's no different to saying anybody in a vehicle 'Would you read a book or read a newspaper while you're driving the vehicle?' Of course we would not. Then we should be reading or sending text messaging as well," said Gregoire.

With the governor's signature, our state now has one of the toughest cell phone usage laws in the country.

"I believe it will save lives and it sends a very simple and important message that if you're behind the wheel of a car, you should be paying attention to the road and traffic around you," said Rep. Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup.

KING

Texting while driving may be banned in Washington state soon if Governor Christine Gregoire signs a bill prohibiting it.

McDonald sponsored the bill to deter texting while driving. McDonald says she got the idea for the law after talking to local high school students who say texting is their primary form of communicating. A survey shows almost a third of drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 do it.

"It's much more dangerous. It takes a higher level of consciousness to actually compose a message and edit a message and send it," said McDonald.

Washington now has one of the toughest cell phone usage laws in the country. Many accidents have been caused by inattentive drivers distracted by using their blackberry devices.