Expanded texting while driving ban hits Austin Jan. 1

Expanded texting while driving ban hits Austin Jan. 1
Updated: 12/28/2009 5:56:35 PM - www.news8austin.com
By: Ashley Porter

With a new year comes a new texting ban for Austin. Starting Jan. 1, it will be illegal for drivers within Austin city limits to use a cell phone for most operations other than making a phone call. The ordinance was passed by Austin City Council earlier this year.

"You won't be allowed to text. You can't use it for GPS, unless it's a permanently installed device, [and you can't do] any kind of scrolling through the Internet," Austin Police Department Commander Stephen Baker said.

To allow Austin drivers some time to get familiar with new rules, the ordinance begins with a 30-day grace period.

"If we observe these violations, we'll be making the stops, talking to the drivers, and issuing a written warning," said Baker.

After the 30 days, a violation of the ordinance could come with a penalty of up to $200. The ban does not prohibit talking on the phone, and it does allow drivers to check texts while at stop signs and red lights and in emergency situations. The ordinance also applies to bicyclists.

Officers said they'll be on the lookout for drivers and bicyclists looking down at their phones for an extended period of time.

To demonstrate why officers are gearing up to enforce the ban, APD Officer Jim Riley maneuvered a golf cart while texting Monday. By the time Riley made it around the course, he had knocked over a few orange cones and his text message read, "Laf I meedvu tn gry?"

"I was trying to say, 'Pat, you need to get me out of here,'" Riley said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to hurt themselves.