Washington State has become the 21st state to ban talking or texting on a cell phone while driving, without a hands-free device.
Gov. Christine Gregoire signed it into law, giving law enforcement officials the authority to pull over and ticket drivers caught in the act.

"We're excited that Washington has joined us in our fight against distracted driving," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Texting while driving and talking on cell phones is a recipe for disaster on our nation's highways."

According to research by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured.

On Feb. 22, the Department of Transportation released a sample bill for state legislatures to use when prohibiting texting while driving.

The sample state law is patterned on the Executive Order issued by President Obama on Oct. 1, 2009, directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on Dec. 30, 2009.

Earlier this year, the department announced a ban on texting or the use of handheld cell phones by drivers of commercial vehicles, with violators subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.