PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Senate voted 34-to-0 Thursday to ban texting while driving, a practice that local authorities blame for accidents and at least one fatality in Massachusetts this year.

Under the proposed legislation, violators would pay a $50 fine for a first offense, a $75 fine for a second offense, and $100 for each subsequent offense.

The bill, S 0204 Sub A, now heads to the House, which in years' past repeatedly struck down a similar version that sought to ban both texting and talking on a hand-held cellular phone except in emergencies or in cases where the driver has a hands-free device.

Text-messaging while driving is already banned in 10 states, including Connecticut, and the District of Columbia.

-- Reported by Katherine Gregg of the Journal State House Bureau