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Wis. Texting-Driving Ban Goes Into Effect Wed.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Wisconsin law enforcement is gearing up to look for texting drivers.

A new law goes into effect Wednesday that fines first-time violators $20 to $400, along with having four points assessed on their driving records. Second-time violators face fines of $200 to $800.

Wausau police partnered with AAA to bring in driving simulators last week into two area high schools, to show teens the dangers of driving and texting.

Lt. Ben Bliven expects some challenges to enforcing the law but even if there is some question whether the driver was texting, he says police can still give inattentive driving tickets.

The Governors Highway Safety Administration says 30 states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, have enacted legislation to ban text messaging by drivers.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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