FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana’s NewsCenter) – Hoosier teens are banned from texting while driving; and soon every Hoosier may have to keep their thumbs off their cell phones and on the wheel.

Republican Senator Travis Holdman from Markle says texting while driving is a dangerous habit and he wants it to stop.

Holdman authored Indiana’s current law prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 to text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel and now he wants to expand that law.

He says since the teen driving law went into effect in July he's received encouragement to ban all drivers from texting and driving.

The bill, filed last week, would fine drivers for texting and driving. But how would police enforce this law?

“The first tier, or the first level of enforcement will be from folks realizing that they can't do this because it's against the law,” Holdman said. “And if it's a temptation to them, we trust they'll lay the phone down or put it in the back seat.”

Republican Fort Wayne Senator Tom Wyss says lawmaker need to make sure drivers take this law seriously.

“You need to have a stiff enough penalty so the people understand that if they're caught doing something wrong then they're going to pay the consequences and its going to be more than a $25 fine,” Wyss said.

“A 911 call to law enforcement while you're driving down the highway to report someone that's texting is another enforcement tool,” Holdman said. ”And I believe just the officer observing someone whose texting and using their phone or device in that fashion is going to be an easy stop for law enforcement officers.”

You could still lawfully use your cell phone to talk while behind the wheel under this proposed legislation.

A recent national poll shows Americans overwhelmingly agree cell phones should be put down while you’re behind the wheel. Ninety seven percent of 829 adults surveyed said texting and driving should be banned.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports an estimated 6,000 people died on the roads last year in part to the use of electronic devices like cell phones.

Holdman says the proposal is expected to be considered during the 2010 regular session beginning January.

If this proposed legislation in the house and senate the earliest drivers would have to stop texting and driving would be this July.

Indiana would join 18 other states and the District of Columbia in banning drivers from texting while driving if the bill passes.

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