Car Cellphone Ban Recommended by San Antonio

A San Antonio city council committee has decided to ban the use of hand-held devices in cars.

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee moved Wednesday to put the ban before the council for a vote this month.

The proposal would ban dialing, viewing a screen and texting. It would apply to all vehicles on city streets, even those stopped in traffic or at lights. It would not apply to drivers on public property or to GPS devices. Drivers communicating with first responders and people with hands-free devices would still be allowed to use their phones.

The ban would go into effect on Jan. 1 if approved by the council. The police chief says there would likely be a 30-day grace period before the $200 fines are issued.