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WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday that the federal government would seek to ban text messaging by all drivers hauling hazardous materials.

The fine for texting or talking on a cell phone could become as high as $500 in New Jersey under a bill approved Monday by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

The Department of Transportation has announced the agenda for its second Distracted Driving Summit, scheduled for Sept. 21 in Washington.

Truckers in New Jersey using two-way radios are now exempted from the state’s ban on driving while using handheld communication devices.

New Jersey has exempted truck drivers using with CBs and two-way radios from its prohibition against using handheld communication devices while driving.

Delaware has become the 30th state to ban drivers from texting or holding cell phones while driving, the Detroit News reported.

Massachusetts and Iowa enacted laws to combat distracted driving late last week, with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) signed legislation Friday outlawing texting while driving, making his the 29th state to outlaw the practice.

The Senate Commerce Committee last week approved a bill aimed at encouraging states to pass their own distracted driving laws, sending the measure to the Senate floor.

Kansas’ move to become the 26th state to outlaw texting while driving has drawn praise from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for pushing the country past the halfway mark to a nationwide ban on the practice.

Vermont is poised to become the 26th state to ban texting while driving, following closely behind Wisconsin and Michigan.