Text or Chat in a Texas School Zone -- Face Fines Up to $327

IRVING, TX--Aug. 17, 2011: Get caught using a hand-held cell phone while driving in an active Texas school zone and expect to pay an average fine of $235, according to a new survey by Allstate Insurance. The company recently surveyed 80 police departments and municipal courts across the state to find out the average cost of a traffic ticket for using a cell phone without a hands free device in an active school zone.  Allstate also tracked fines for school zone speeders.

Allstate conducted the survey to remind drivers across the state to focus on the road and slow down as students head back to class next week.

The survey found the highest fine for cell phone violations in a Texas school zone is $327.  Corpus Christi, Frisco, New Braunfels and Pearland all ticketed violators for that amount.

Highest Fines for School Zone Talkers in Texas:

Speeding Violations in Texas School Zones Reach $312

Police are also looking for school zone speeders. The average cost of a ticket for drivers topping the speed limit by 10 miles per hour in an active Texas school zone is $216. The highest ticket in the state is $312 in Huntsville.  

Highest Fines for School Zone Speeders in Texas:

"No matter how high or low the fines are in a city, they are in place to protect our kids and save lives," said David Christopher, an Allstate agent in Frisco. "Hopefully, any fine is enough to make drivers slow down, hang up the phone and focus on the road."

Three Back to School Traffic Safety Tips

Allstate recommends the following road rules for back to school:

1. Drive slowly in school zones. Watch for children in the road and always obey crossing guards.
2. Put down your phone, breakfast and make-up and focus on driving.
3. Be alert and patient around school buses and bus stops.

Surveyed Cities

Allstate's 2011 back to school safety survey was conducted in the following Texas cities and/or surrounding areas:

• Abilene
• Amarillo
• Austin
• Beaumont
• Brownsville-Harlingen-McAllen
• Bryan-College Station
• Corpus Christi
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• El Paso
• Houston
• Laredo
• Lubbock
• Midland-Odessa
• San Angelo
• San Antonio
• Sherman
• Texarkana
• Tyler-Longview
• Victoria
• Waco-Temple-Killeen
• Wichita Falls

A total of 80 Texas police departments and/or municipal courts responded to the survey via phone or e-mail between July 25 and August 8, 2011. Fines were also tracked using official city Web sites.

The Allstate Corporation is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good Hands With AllstateŽ" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. .