TEXTING AND DRIVING BAN SIGNED INTO LAW BY ABBOTT

  

Late yesterday (Tuesday), a statement was released that House Bill 62 was signed in to law Governor Greg Abbot at the State Capitol in Austin.

The bill will create a state-wide ban on texting while driving, and was authored by Representative Tom Craddick and Senator Judith Zaffirini.

As one of the last states, the ban in Texas takes effect Sept. 1. Texting will be punishable by a fine of up to $99 for first-time offenders and $200 for repeat offenses.

Texting and driving is on the special session legislation, but has more to do with creating a blanket ban.

Abbott said Tuesday that when lawmakers meet in special session in July and August, he wants them to pass a state law that will roll back any local ordinances that ban mobile device use beyond texting while driving. "We don't need a patchwork of regulations," across the state, Abbott said.