A new law banning cell phone use while driving through a school zone will come into effect this September 1st.
"It is designed to enhance safety for school children," McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez told Action 4 News.
The new law does not mean you cannot talk on the phone but you just have to use other means.
"If the vehicle is stopped somewhere, in a parking lot or off the roadway, then that's different you'll be ok,” said Rodriguez. “It also excludes if you have hands-free device."
While McAllen will spend thousands of dollars on new signs to be placed throughout the city.
But there was not enough money to put the new signs in all school zones throughout the city.
Rodriguez said the law will not apply in areas without the proper signage.
"We are required to have the signage up if we're going to enforce this," said Rodriguez.
The McAllen police chief said the money they are spending is a small amount compared to saving child’s life.
"We at McAllen take safety very seriously,” said Rodriguez. “We're working with the District to make this happen."
At this point, the city’s biggest concern is not paying for the signs but figuring out how they are going to get them all up before the start of school.
"Given the short period of time we have to work with, we're hoping we can most of these things done as school starts here in about 10 days or so," said Rodriguez.
Anyone caught driving through a school zone on a cell phone where there is clear signage banning it could face up to a $200 fine.
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