The state legislature made a positive move forward this month by passing a bill that will make texting while driving a primary offense, giving police the ability to pull over drivers solely for texting. Those who violate the law would receive fines of $75 starting July 1 of this year.

“It covers all vehicles,” said State Director D. Leeds Pickering, adding that the state Department of Education had offered recommendations against cell phone use. “This is a law, which will be good for the state.”

Two cities, Cheyenne and Green River, had previously instituted overall cell phone bans with ordinances, according to Pickering. Legislation that would have banned overall cell phone use had failed to pass in the state for the last six years.

“This time they went after texting as a first step,” added Pickering.

According to the Insurance Insitute for Highway Safety that tracks state cell phone laws, seven states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington) the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. All laws allow primary enforcement except for Washington. IIHS also said 17 states and the District of Columbia.prohibit school bus drivers from using cell phones when behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, texting while driving is banned in a total of 20 states, including the District of Columbia and Guam. But, according to IIHS, Texas is the only other state besides Wyoming with a law that specifically mentions bus drivers when a passenger 17 years of age or younger is on board.