The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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  • A yellow light flashes near Scott Johnson Elementary and Huntsville Intermediate schools to alert motorists entering the school crossing zone during the hours of enforcement. The newly added signs are held by the same post that displays the reduced speed limit enforced near schools. Matt Weintritt

    Cell phone signs 2.jpg

  • A yellow light flashes near Scott Johnson Elementary and Huntsville Intermediate schools to alert motorists entering the school crossing zone during the hours of enforcement. The newly added signs are held by the same post that displays the reduced speed limit enforced near schools. Matt Weintritt

    Cell phone signs 1.jpg

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February 22, 2012

Handheld cell phone use banned in school zones

By Cody Stark Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — Cell phone calls and texts messages are going to have to be put on hold when citizens are driving near local schools during the week.

The Huntsville City Council passed a city ordinance in December prohibiting the use of cell phones in active school zones when students are coming and going in the mornings and afternoons. Signs alerting drivers of the new ordinance will soon be placed in front of all the schools where motorists can see them when entering the prohibited zones.

The city ordinance is in compliance with a Texas distracted driving law that was passed this year which prohibits handheld cell phones in school zones. Since Huntsville High School, Huntsville Intermediate and Scott Johnson Elementary are on state highways, warning signs have already been up and the new law is being enforced.

As soon as the city finishes putting up all the signs, people who get caught using their cell phones without a handless device will be subject to a fine of up to $200.

“We are proud the City Council passed this so that we could get those signs up,” Huntsville Police Chief Kevin Lunsford said. “The state passed this law and put up the signs at a few of our schools, but we had to present it to the council to get it passed city-wide. It is only enforceable with the signs up and this is just one more way we can protect our children.”

Using a handheld cell phone in an active school crossing zone is a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $200 for adults and up to $100 for minors. There are exceptions to the law, such as if the driver is in an emergency situation.

“We just want citizens to be aware of these changes to the law,” Lunsford said. “We had received several calls from concerned citizens wanting to know why this law was not being enforced. Now that we have these signs going up, we will be enforcing the law. People just need to remember that they can not use their cell phones in school zones during posted school zone times.”

The school zone law is one of two new distracted driving laws passed by the state that are now in effect. The other bans teen drivers from using cell phones and text messaging devices while operating a vehicle.



Here is a list of the schools where signs are posted prohibiting cell phone use in active school zones:

• Huntsville High School, 515 FM 2821.

• Huntsville Intermediate, 431 Highway 190 East.

• Scott Johnson Elementary, 603 Highway 190 East.

• Huntsville Elementary, 87 MLK Drive.

• Stewart Elementary, 3400 Boettcher Drive.

• Samuel W. Houston Elementary, 1641 7th Street.

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