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Cell phones no longer allowed in school zones
Published August 24, 2009
Driving through a school zone with a cell phone pressed against your ear soon will be against the law, but unless area cities put up street signs that say so, police have no authority to enforce it.
In passing House Bill 55, the Texas Legislature gave cities and counties the authority to put up signs at the start of each school zone stating a fine will be assessed to those talking on their cell phones, County Commissioner Donald “Dude” Payne said.
House Bill 55 makes it illegal to use a wireless communication device in a school zone unless the vehicle is stopped or a hands-free device is used, according to information from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Brazoria County commissioners at their meeting Friday approved buying signs to be placed at the eight locations where school zones are in county jurisdictions, Payne said.
He hopes placing the signs around the county will keep children safe, he said. By requiring people to put down their cell phones, they might pay a little more attention to the road, he said.
Area cities soon will face a similar decision.
Cities are not required to buy the signs, according to the new law, and if no signs are in place, the law cannot be enforced, Lake Jackson City Manager Bill Yenne said.
Cities will foot the bill for any signs in their city limits except those on state highways, which will be covered by the Texas Department of Transportation if cities approve the signs, he said.
Assistant County Engineer Kevin Sherrodd said he is unsure how much the signs will cost or when they will arrive, but hopes they can be put up by Sept. 1, when the law goes into effect.
The 16-by-24-inch signs will be placed under those stating the driver is entering a school zone, Sherrodd said, and read “Cell phone use prohibited; up to $200 fine.”
School officials say the law, if followed, likely will increase student safety.
“As a school official, anything that helps our kids is welcome,” Brazosport ISD Assistant Superintendent Dennis McNaughten said.
There often is a lot of congestion in school zones as children are being dropped off or picked up, said Carol Bertholf, Columbia-Brazora ISD superintendent. Cell phones increase distraction for drivers and therefore increase the danger to students.
“More and more information is out there that talking on cell phones is distracting,” Bertholf said.
Lake Jackson Mayor Bob Sipple said making sure people are aware as they drive past schools is a good idea.
“It applies to me as well,” Sipple said. “I’m as guilty as anybody at being inattentive as I talk on my phone.”
County Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh said states soon could see a law that prohibits cell phone use by drivers no matter where they are driving.
However, Clute police Chief Mark Wicker said enforcing a ban on cell phone usage in a school zone will likely be tough. Officers will be unable to watch school zones at all times, he said.
However, putting down the cell phone while driving always is a good idea, he said.
“Drivers need to pay attention, especially in a school zone with all of those kids around,” Wicker said.
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