RALEIGH, N.C. -- Family members stood behind lawmakers, holding pictures of their loved ones, their deaths all blamed on distracted drivers spurring them to action by supporting House Bill 144.

  • House Bill 144 would ban handheld cellphone use while driving
  • Having your phone on speakerphone or bluetooth in a secured spot would still be legal
  • Sponsors filed the North Carolina bill last week and it seems to have bipartisan support

The bill would ban handheld cellphone use while driving.

Having your phone on speakerphone or bluetooth in a secured spot would still be legal.

However, drivers caught violating the law would face a $100 fine for the first offense.

More citations would have higher fines with insurance points.

One mom told us her 17-year-old son was texting when he got into a wreck. She wants law enforcement to be able to pull someone over for simply seeing that cell phone in their hands.

So far, 16 other states have similar laws in place.

A representative from Georgia was in the room to share some of the staggering statistics.

In the three months since Georgia's "hands-free" law has been enforced, the state's already seen about 15 percent decrease in car accidents.

Sponsors filed the North Carolina bill last week, and it seems to have bipartisan support.

Twenty-four Republicans and 22 Democrats have already signed on.