Indiana governor backs ban on drivers using handheld phones

Also raise the smoking age

Drivers in Indiana could very soon have to put their phones down. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb yesterday said a hands-free driving law is one of his major priorities this year.

Indiana has banned texting while driving since 2011.

This new ban would allow police to pull people over for simply holding the phone or looking at it while they are driving.

The governor also told lawmakers he'd like them to raise the smoking age in Indiana to 21 for smoking and vaping

Three weeks after several thousand teachers rallied at the Statehouse, Holcomb gave his support to one of the top issues raised by the teachers unions — ending a new license requirement pushed through by Republican legislators this year forcing teachers, regardless of grade level or subjects they teach, to spend time learning about local employment needs.

Holcomb called for making that an option for teachers to meet professional development standards rather than a requirement.