TALLAHASSEE--A texting and driving ban that's been long in the making for Florida is one step closer to becoming law.

A unanimous nine to zero vote by The State Senate Communications Committee is a good sign for those excited to see more driver eyes on roads instead of on phone screens.

The proposed ban - also known as Senate Bill 52, represents four years of failed efforts by The Florida Legislature to pass a ban.

The bill outlaws texting by drivers, but not by police and other emergency vehicles.

"Where all the opposition came from I don't know but there's a lot of momentum up here now to get this done; I've only been up here one term and I tell you it's hard to go back to Gainesville and my District, trying to explain to people why we did not get something done as important as this."- (Keith Perry, District 21 State Representative)

If passed, the texting ban would be classified as a secondary traffic offense; meaning police can only cite drivers if they've been pulled over for a separate violation. 

39 other states already have similar texting and driving bans.