Tougher texting-and-driving ban sails through Senate committee

Legislation to make texting while driving a primary offense was passed Wednesday unanimously by the Senate Transportation Committee. Miami Republican Rene Garcia sponsored the legislation (SB 144). Florida was one of the later states in the country to adopt anti-texting laws, not doing so until 2013. But the fact that it’s a secondary offense has led critics to call the law toothless. Under Garcia’s bill, police could pull over drivers for texting while driving. In the past, some lawmakers have expressed concerns…