DETROIT -- No more texting while driving in the state of Michigan.

Governor Jennifer Granholm made an appearance Friday on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" to sign the bill into law.

Why Oprah?  The talk show host coined Friday, April 30, "No Phone Zone Day."  Her hope is that some day soon, all drivers across the country will put down the cell phone and just concentrate on the road.

Michigan is now the 23rd state in the nation to put a ban on texting while driving.

"It is clearly a danger, so we're really proud in Michigan," says Governor Granholm, "especially because we are the home of the auto industry, and General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all support it."

The law, which takes effect on July 1, prohibits a person from reading, writing or sending a text message while operating a moving motor vehicle.

"My initial thoughts are I don't think that it really goes far enough.  I think it's a good start, but I wish they would have just done it totally:  no cell phone use in vehicles by the driver," says Marquette County Sheriff, Michael Lovelace.

Drivers agree that Michigan is going to be a safer place to drive.

"I think it's very good.  It's very dangerous for people to text and drive.  It's a very good law, I believe," says motorist, Jacqueline Boogaard.

"I think it will create the roads to be safer, and it'll just create a safer environment, but it really doesn't affect me because I don't text and drive," says Allison Periso.

If you're wondering how strict the sheriff's office plans to be about the texting ban..."We'll enforce the law.  That's what we do.  We will enforce the law, but we'll see how far the state of Michigan wants to go with this," Sheriff Lovelace stated.

The law is a primary offense, so police can pull us over for texting alone.  If you are caught, plan on coughing up $100 for a first offense and $200 for each citation after that.