Heather Monroe is a self-proclaimed texting queen. There is no place that she won't text.
She texts at home, at work, even in the shower. "I'll jump out if I hear the phone beep," Monroe says. "I'm like 'who's texting me?' I just can't wait."
Also, knowing the dangers of texting while driving doesn't sway this mom of three from responding to a text while behind the wheel. "I know it's dangerous, but I still do it. My oldest son even tells me to stop. He's ten, and even he knows."
Thirty states plus Guam and DC ban texting for all drivers. Just last year, eleven states joined the driving while texting bandwagon.
If a bill being discussed in South Carolina's Senate committee committee becomes law, the state would make texting while driving illegal. Drivers caught texting would pay a $20 fine plus a $25 state trauma care fund surcharge.
After court and other surcharges are added, the fine could be much higher, even costing a driver a license point.
Right now, the bill offers first-time offenders a class promoting the dangers of texting while driving. Those who attend the class wouldn't have to pay a fine or gain a drivers license point.
Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC) spokesman, Brent Groome, says the company understands the dangers of texting while driving. That's why they've been trying to educate students about the dangers.
"There's less voice traffic than data and texting with wireless," says Groome. "So obviously young people and adults seem to favor texting than talking to someone. They'd rather use their thumbs than talk to someone."
HTC is in favor of the bill overall. "It's a shame it would take a law to get people to stop texting while driving. If you have business that's that important, pull over and continue your text."
To issue a ticket, police must have a clear view of a driver texting. Drivers making phone calls or scrolling through their contacts are exempt from the bill. Some on the Grand Strand say the law would be hard to enforce.
"I'm used to it," says Coastal Carolina University student Chris Poult. "In New York, it's illegal to text and drive. I hold the phone way down so that no other car can see that I'm texting."
It's still uncertain if the law will be implemented as a primary or secondary enforcement. Primary enforcement means police could pull you over for texting while driving and give you a ticket. Secondary enforcement means police could not pull you over for texting while driving alone, but only issue a citation for texting if you are committing another violation and texting at the same time. Twenty-six states, Guam and DC administer primary enforcement, while the four other states have secondary enforcement.
A study conducted by the Virginia Tech Driving Institute found those texting while driving are twenty-three times more likely to have an accident.
Monroe knows all the facts and knows people personally who've gotten into accidents. If the bill is passed, she'll still continue to text but sparingly.
"I'll do it at a minimum," she says. "I'm one of the lucky ones who hasn't gotten in an accident. I need to get better about doing that (texting and driving). I know."
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