After Universal City, Selma, and San Antonio, Converse becomes the latest Texas city to ban texting while driving. 

The Converse City Council recently passed an ordinance to prohibit drivers from reading and sending text messages as well as browsing the Internet while driving.  Voted unanimously by all 7 council members, the ordinance will become effective on November 20^th, although motorists will not get fined for the first few weeks.

“We will allow a warning period for the first 90 days,” said Converse Mayor Al Suarez, who explained that the period will give the city time to put up warning signs at the city’s main entry points.  ”Thereafter, we’ll be taking this ordinance very seriously.”

A concern while coming up with the ordinance was the safety of young drivers. 

“If this ordinance could save one accident, [the ban] is worth it. We do have one of the largest high schools in Bexar County, right in the middle of Converse,” said mayor Suarez.  “So we’ve considered not only the safety of the citizens, but also the safety of the students.”

Getting caught texting while driving in Converse will result in a fine up to $200.

Source: WOAI, November 5, 2010

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