Texting Ban Set to Begin Jan 1

It may be a hard habit to break -Texting, using the GPS, checking your email and surfing the internet on your phone while driving. According to the Austin Police Department distracted driving is to blame for 129 serious collisions this year, some of them involving texting. It's why the city is doing something about it.

"As of Friday it'll be illegal in the city of Austin to use a cellphone for any other reason except for making a phone call," says APD Cmdr. Stephen Baker.

APD's Highway Enforcement used a golf cart and some cones Monday to show the effect of distracted driving.

Once using fatal vision goggles to simulate intoxication are used the driver takes down a cone. Then with the driver texting, he didn't just knock down cones but also didn't break when he should've.

It's why Austinites for the most part support the ordinance.

"Texting really does distract people from when they're driving," says Donna Cruz, who admits to have texted and driven before.

According to the ordinance you can still text while in your car but your car must be stopped, for example at a red light. To get used to the new law drivers will be given a 30-day grace period. During that time officers officers will hand out warnings instead of citations. APD says stops will be made depending on driving behavior or if a driver looks distracted.

That traffic stop is a class C misdemeanor and punishable by an up to $200 fine. GPS devices can be used but only if they are mounted in the car. City council members will revisit the ordinance six months from now to decide if it works.