“Some of the conservatives thought ‘Well you’re taking my rights away. I should be allowed to text.’ Well look at this a little further. It’s not the rights of the texter we’re looking at. It’s the rights of that person coming down the opposite side of the highway. They deserve the safest highway possible”

For the first six months of the law, drivers who are caught texting while driving will receive a warning. After that, anyone over the age of 18 who violates the law will pay a $150 fine. A second offense results in a $300 fine. 

Geoff Dutton with the Ohio Department of Public Health says the law states that no handheld electronic devices can be used while driving.

“That means no cell phone, no texting, no laptop, video game, iPad, tablets, even if they’re sitting at a red light.”

Ohio has the toughest state law targeting teens teens who text while driving. Any 16 or 17 year olds who are caught breaking that law will be ticketed and have their license suspended for up to 60 days.