This week, Los Angeles Mayor Antonia Villaraigosa joined the ranks of numerous public officials calling for drivers to stop texting while driving.

The State of California banned texting while driving over a year and a half ago, but many drivers throughout Marin County, Stockton and all of California still continue to text while driving.

Texting can be deadly. In fact, some statistics estimate that you are 23 times more like to be in a car accident if you text while you are driving.

A bill is currently pending before the Roseville state senate that seeks to increase first time fines from texting from $20 to $50 for violations and from $50 to $100 for each additional offense.

Bicyclists would be fined $20 for texting while bicycling.

The current law is being ignored by many, especially teenagers. According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, 26 percent of American teens admitted driving while texting.

As a California personal injury attorney, I support this bill. Too many car and biking accidents occur as a result of driver distraction. Hopefully increased fines will lead to increased attention to this often dangerous and often deadly habit.