MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Saying he is confident it will save lives, Gov. Robert Bentley this morning signed into law legislation to make it a crime to text and drive.

"It doesn't take a lot of common sense to know that you can't text and drive at the same time," Bentley said at a press conference outside the Alabama Capitol before signing the bill.

Bentley said he believes the measure will save lives just like the state law that requires the use of seat belts.

The new law will prohibit sending text messages, instant messages and emails while operating a motor vehicle. It does not prohibit dialing a phone.

The bill includes a fine of $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second offense and $75 for a third or subsequent offense. Each offense is a two-point violation on a person's driving record.

"I think this will at least remind people you should not text and drive at the same time. Even though the penalties are not great, it is just reminding people not to do that," Bentley said.

Alabama will become the 38th state to prohibit texting and driving, according to The Governors Highway Safety Association.

Republican Rep. Jim McClendon of Springville worked on the bill for six years before finally winning legislative approval. "There's no question we are going to save lives," McClendon said.

The law goes into effect Aug. 1.

Public Safety Department Director Col. Hugh McCall said sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eye off the road for 4.6 seconds on average -- enough for a car going 55 mph to travel the length of a football field.

When the bill has come up for floor debate over the years, some legislators have questioned how enforceable the ban would be.

McClendon said cell phone companies have records that will show can show whether a text was sent or received.

McCall said a major benefit of the law is that many people will abide by the law and thus it will reduce the number of people who text and drive.

The Alabama law does not goes as far as some states. Ten states, Washington D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving, according to The Governors Highway Safety Association.

Asked about that, McClendon noted that it took him six years to get the texting bill passed.

"One step at a time. Alabama is a little different let's face it. This is not New York. This is not California. There are folks who feel like we may be infringing on their freedoms as citizens," he said.