Current laws already prevent texting and driving but officers say it’s difficult to enforce.

CURRITUCK, N.C. — It’s something we’ve all heard before: don’t text and drive. But now legislators in North Carolina are considering a bill that would make it illegal to even hold a phone in your hand.

Current laws already prevent texting and driving but officers say it’s difficult to enforce.

“Unless we have somebody openly admit that they were texting or we get a search warrant to search their phone, it’s really hard or difficult for our officers to enforce the law as it reads now," said NC Highway Patrol sergeant Michael Baker.

The bill still has a long way to go, but it’s past the first step: The North Carolina House voted in favor of House Bill 144, called "Hands-Free NC." This bill would hit drivers with a $100 fine if they’re caught with a phone in their hands.

A lot of Currituck County drivers 13News Now spoke with are overwhelmingly in favor of another step toward cracking down on distracted driving.

"It’s not that difficult to pull to the side of the road if you really need to make a call or something of that nature," said North Carolina driver Steven.

Another man, Dave Lewis, said distracted driving is a common problem.

"Grading papers, reading books, putting on makeup. You keep naming it all... it’s not just phones, it’s everything," Lewis said.

According to AAA, there were 123 fatalities on North Carolina roads last year, because of distracted driving.