A law from Georgia that local residents may be familiar with could be on its way to Alabama roadways.

The Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee met Wednesday morning, where they approved a bill that would implement a law based on Georgia’s Hands-Free Law.

Currently, the state of Alabama does have a law prohibiting texting while driving, but the proposed bill would further ban drivers from holding a phone in their hand or touching any part of their body.

Today’s approved bill was introduced by Representative Allen Farley (R-McCalla), and does prove similar to a bill also introduced to the State Senate by Senator Jim McClendon (R-Springville), both of which we have covered before. In both bills, there are exceptions in place for law enforcement and emergency responders, as well as for use of a cellphone for navigational purposes such as GPS.

If the law goes through, drivers would pay a $50 fine for a first violation, $100 for a second, and $150 for a third and subsequent violations. Currently, the bill approved by the Public Safety Committee will be sent to the Alabama House for consideration, with a vote coming at a later date.

17 states and the District of Columbia currently have bans on holding a phone while driving. For a look back at our coverage of Georgia’s Hands-Free Law, you can click here for more.