People who text-message while driving may soon be looking at something more than their cell-phone view screen, according to The Providence Journal.

They may glance at their rear-view mirror, checking for the police.

Because texting while driving will soon be a traffic violation.

The General Assembly has passed a bill to make it so, and Governor Carcieri is expected to sign it.

When he does, Rhode Island would become the 19th state plus the District of Columbia to prohibit the activity, as concern grows across the nation about the issue of distracted driving. Nine of those states prohibit texting only by novice drivers or in limited circumstances.