One year after Washington state banned text messaging while driving, many motorists are doing their best to follow the law. At least, that's the optimistic way to interpret the data. In reality, many texters are probably just doing their best to avoid getting caught -- and finding that it's not very hard.

The results here could serve as a preview for California, which starts enforcing a similar text-messaging ban tomorrow.

Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 15, the Washington State Patrol issued 116 tickets and 187 warnings for violations of the texting law, according to Sgt. Freddy Williams. That may seem like a lot, but it pales in comparison to the 803 tickets and 1,475 warnings issued so far to people talking on their phones while driving (without a hands-free device). That state ban took effect in July -- six months after the texting law.

In some ways, it makes sense that drivers would text less than they talk. Tapping letters over the gear shift is a serious distraction -- to the point that even the most maniacal texters should realize how foolish it is. Right or wrong, many people are more comfortable talking on the phone behind the wheel, despite the risks.

But the mechanics of texting also make it easier to conceal. Unless a driver holds the device against the steering wheel or close to his face, a common technique is to look down, texting illicitly below the window. From a passing patrol car, it would be much harder to detect a texter than to notice a phone plastered against a driver's ear.

Both factors may contribute to the lower number of texting citations.

The twist in Washington's law is that texting and talking on mobile phones are secondary offenses. That means people can only be cited for them if they're first pulled over for some other violation. The prototypical example is the texting or talking driver who gets stopped for swerving all over the road -- or, worse, one who gets cited after causing an accident.

But even in those cases, the inherently covert nature of texting works in the driver's favor. If the trooper or someone else doesn't see the texting, it's up to the driver to admit what happened.

The laws in Washington and California prohibit not just sending text messages but receiving them. Washington was the first state to pass such a law. Seven states now ban text-messaging while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

California's new law differs from ours by making texting a primary offense -- letting officers stop anyone they see doing it, for that reason alone. That could make citations more common in that state. But the approach still doesn't get around the fact that texting is easy to hide.

Washington's texting ban is tougher than California's law in one respect, with violators here facing fines of $124. (Some reports have quoted a lesser fine, but Williams confirmed that number.) In California, the fine is a mere $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent violations -- less than the price of a decent Lakers ticket.

For the record, we tried to take this analysis further by adding another very important piece of data to the comparison. But unfortunately, our state doesn't track the number of citations issued under the ban on driving while "embracing" another person.