MILWAUKEE - Distracted driving is a problem all over, and now lawmakers are trying to change that. We left the TODAY'S TMJ4 Speedbusters gun at home, and took on the rain instead.

We set out on Milwaukee area highways to see if drivers are driving distracted. Trooper Steve Lindemann works for the Wisconsin State Patrol. He admits, "It's a huge problem out there."

We found a lot of it out there--men and women talking on the phone, something most of us have done before. But did you know some data suggests it's equivalent to driving drunk.

Cell phone chatter is one thing, but what about a pet driving a car? That's right--we saw a dog that appeared to be driving his owner's vehicle while sitting on his lap!

"As soon as something happens out there and they have to react, it's going to create a major problem," Trooper Lindemann warns.

Although a dog driving is rare, texting is not. Lindemann adds, "I'd be willing to bet you're close to a 2.0 drunk if you're sitting there trying to do that."

Right now drivers can get a ticket for inattentive driving, but that's only after the fact. But there's a new law coming up that could ban texting. State Representative Peter Barca from Kenosha recently introduced a bill that will ban texting.

"It's clear it's an extremely dangerous practice," Barca says. He adds, "A lot of this is preventative medicine, trying to get people to understand how extraordinarily dangerous this is."

And while some are skeptical a ban would work. Trooper Lindemann believes it's better than doing nothing.

"I know we should probably try," he says.

A texting ban could become law by early next year. If you've got a speeding problem e-mail speedbusters@todaystmj4.com.