The ban on texting while driving passed by Laramie City Council last week largely mirrors existing state statute, but Laramie Police Chief Dale Stalder says there is one key difference.

The City ordinance also bans dialing a phone while driving, which Stalder says will be considered a primary offense along with texting while driving.

"We need to have probable cause to write that citation," says Stalder. "So there's going to have to be made that determination."

"If the officer sees somebody working on that keypad, they'll have to make a determination -- is it texting or is it dialing?" says Stalder. "And cite appropriately based on what that person is suspected of doing in that operated vehicle."

Stalder says the ordinance still needs to be published several times in the Laramie Boomerang before officers can begin enforcement.

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