Efforts to ban text messaging while driving in Suffolk County were temporarily put on hold Tuesday, but legislators maintain the idea is gaining popularity.

Leg. Jay Schneiderman (D-Montauk) says he has been trying to ban text messaging for more than a year but has come up against resistance.

Meanwhile, drivers say the practice is becoming ever more common. They say the most frequent offenders are teens.

Schneiderman says his plan now has the support of Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota. He also says Suffolk legislators are coming around to the idea that the county may have to take the lead on the issue.

A vote on such a bill should take place in the middle of next month.