AMARILLO, TEXAS -- We reported last week that the Amarillo City Commission voted on an ordinance to ban cell phone use in school zones, and yesterday that final reading was complete.
The signs will start going up as early as next week at the high schools.
The law will go into effect in the middle of August for the beginning of the new school year.
If caught using your cell phone without a hands free device you will be issued a ticket.
Officials say the toughest part of this law will be enforcing it.
"They will be able to see in a car if a person is on the phone, it is going to be a little difficult sometimes to determine particularly if it's down on your lap, but they will have officers on the look out for cell phone use, they will pull the driver over and issue a ticket," said Mayor Debra McCartt.
McCartt went on to say that as a city commission it's their job to do their best to keep the community safe and she beleives this is a huge step in the right direction.
