DES MOINES, IOWA // The Iowa state house has approved a ban on texting while driving but the ban does not extend to talking on mobile phones or reading text messages while at the wheel. Dave Tjepkes, the representative who introduced the measure, said he narrowed the scope to only include sending texts to give it a better chance of passing. Penalties for texting while driving will range from a US$65 (Dh239) to a $1,000 (Dh3,673) fine and licence suspension if a fatal crash is caused by a texting driver. The ban was passed in a 20-1 vote.