An effort to ban the sending of text messages while driving appears stalled in the Florida Legislature.

The Republican leadership has been generally hostile because of their distaste for further government intrusion into people's lives. They say there are already laws on the books banning unsafe driving that would cover a driver distracted by texting.

But Tampa Bay area horse trainer Joyce Concklin has a different opinion. She suffered 10 broken bones when a texting driver ran head on into her husband's pickup truck. She said the law might infringe a little on other's lives but the accident had a major effect on hers. The texting driver died.

"They're taking their eyes off of the road and actually looking down sending a text or reading something, and that's when things can happen in front of them," said Lt. Bill Leeper, of the Florida Highway Patrol.

The proposal calls for a $30 fine for a first violation and a $60 fine for a second within five years.

Ron Page, of the Northeast Florida Safety Council, is hoping the ban passes.

"The problem is when you're out on the road, it's no longer private because now you're on a public highway," Page said. "You're not only endangering your own life, but you're endangering the lives of children and other people out there."

Some people think texting and driving isn't a problem.

"I don't text when I'm actually moving my car, but as far as the red light goes, if I miss the light I miss the light. It's on me," driver Ashley Marcio said.

Her problem with enforcement is how police will get the proof someone was texting.

"Well, the cops are going to assume you're texting," Marcio said. "They see you with a phone and they're going to think, 'Nope, she's texting. No, I saw you on the phone,' and who's words are you going to go on -- a person or a cop with authority?"