Texting while driving ban starts

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin's new texting while driving ban in effect today. Motorists in Austin can no longer legally use their cell phones for anything other than talking. Laptop use while driving is also banned. Specifically, that means no texting, no scrolling through messages, no web surfing, no hand held GPS navigating and no more reading e mails.

Austin Police are giving drivers a one-month grace period. However, after that sending or reading a text on the road could cost you $500.

Kathy Ramsey of Elgin was caught reading a text while driving in Southeast Austin on January 1st.

"I looked at my phone,” said Kathy Ramsey. “I didn’t know anything about it. I very seldom use that phone when I am driving.”

Despite being pulled over by Officer Jay Swann and Cadet Stephanie Little, Ramsey’s new year is already starting off lucky.

“You’ll be receiving a warning today,” said Swann.

Another driver also gets off the hook. When Officer Swann asked if she was texting she answered she was dialing her mom’s phone number which is perfectly legal.

Even though, last year of the 129 serious collisions involving cell phones only 12 involved texting.

APD officers are now also prevented from using their laptops or texting while driving unless it is for work purposes. This, after two officers using their laptops were in collisions last year.

“If they are getting a cell phone or email message from their wife or friends or whatever in that case, those are not allowed,” said Commander Stephen Baker. “They have to be in official capacity,”

If you're checking your work email or texts you could face a class c misdemeanor. That is enough to have Ramsey making a new, New Years resolution.

“Yep, that’s it,” said Ramsey.

You can still text at a stop light. In order to get the ticket your car has to be moving.