INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - State officials want to make sure teenagers and their parents know about a new state law banning anyone younger than 18 from using a cell phone while driving. The law goes into effect on July 1. It also will ban motorists under age 18 from chatting, texting, or using a cell phone camera in a car. Democratic Rep. Peggy Welch of Bloomington says she expects police to be somewhat lenient when the law first goes into effect. She says officers might give teens warnings at first. A Bureau of Motor Vehicles staff task force had its first meeting last week to start developing a plan for implementing the bill. The bill's Senate sponsor, Sen. Travis Holdman of Markle, says research shows the new provisions could reduce fatal injury crashes of 16-year-old drivers by 38%. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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