Michigan will follow the footsteps of Nebraska and Kentucky as Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the latest legislation that will make texting while driving in the state illegal.

During one of the many “No Phone Zone” public rally initiated by the Oprah Winfrey show that took place on April 30th , the governor announced that starting July 1, all motorists would be prohibited from sending, reading or typing text and email messages.

“We’re proud to be the 24th state now to be able to ban texting while driving,” Granholm said. “While talking on the phone is a distraction, clearly, texting while driving on top of that, where you don’t have your eyes on the road or your hands on the wheel or your mind on what you’re doing, it is clearly a danger. So we’re really proud in Michigan, especially since we are the home of the auto industry.”

Winfrey was happy to see the state would be safer with this law, but she still reminded her viewers that the “No Phone Zone” Pledge meant more than a texting ban.

“Put down your phone when you drive — simple as that,” she said during the show.

The new law will make texting while driving a primary offense and impose a $100 fine for first offenders, and $200 fine for any subsequent offense.  While there are 24 states that ban texting while driving, Michigan is the 19th state to make it a primary offense, meaning law enforcement officers can pull over drivers if they think they are exchanging text messages.

Related posts:

1. Michigan moves forward on texting while driving ban
2. Washington state House looks to ban teens from texting while driving
3. Nebraska latest state to sign texting while driving ban
4. Oprah Winfrey’s No Texting Pledge
5. Maryland texting ban not tough enough