Governor to sign texting while driving bill today

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Gov. Mary Fallin plans to sign legislation that makes it illegal to text while driving in Oklahoma.

Fallin will be joined by Secretary of Safety and Security Michael Thompson and several Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers on Tuesday when she signs the bill into law.

The legislation makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle while using a hand-held electronic device to compose, send or read electronic messages while driving.

It’s named after troopers Nicholas Dees and Keith Burch, who were struck by a vehicle on Interstate 40 in January whose driver was allegedly updating a social media page at the time. Dees died at the scene, and Burch was hospitalized.

Members of the troopers’ families are also expected to attend Tuesday’s ceremonial bill signing.