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sjfcontrol wrote:You are prohibited from using cell phones entirely -- even hands free -- in school zones in McKinney.
And yet you can drive with children in the car -- a MUCH bigger distraction, IMO.

(So don't get caught singing along with the radio (or talking to yourself) -- might get nabbed! )

While putting on makeup and eating your breakfast. No kidding.

RottenApple wrote:Personally I use an iPhone 4S with a bluetooth headset. I just reach up to my headset, tap the action/answer button, and tell Siri to send a message to <insert_name_here>.

I think the hands free stuff is okay even in school zones. At least as far as talking goes. Texting is another subject, but maybe that can be hands free with the new iPhone. IDK

Personally, I don't like the hands free, bluetooth, stuff that much. When I tried it I found myself paying less attention to what I was doing then when I just held the phone up to my ear. Even when I'm walking around. However, my car has bluetooth and I can talk through the car's system. That's not too bad, but I still think I pay more attention to what's going on around me when I'm holding the phone to my ear. I don't talk on the phone very much while walking or driving and never in a school zone. I'm just saying what I've observed in my own behavior.

There are several school zones within an eight block radius of my house and it is nearly impossible to get from my house to the highway without going through at least one of them. However, there is one with sign that says, "when flashing." The lights have not flashed yet this school year. I don't know what they are up to on this one.

I do have a couple of questions, though. RGB's post brought these to mind.

1. Are we prohibited from using our phones in a school zone if we are parked? I do this if I arrive early before they are let out.
2. Are we prohibited from using our phones in the school's parking lot? I also do this while parked waiting for them to be let out.
3. If the answer to #2 is yes, then does it make a difference if it is a public or private school?
4. This law only applies to the driver and not any passengers, right?