IRVING, Texas, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 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:
|
|
City
|
Average fine
for using wireless device in school zone
|
|
Corpus Christi
|
$327
|
|
Frisco
|
$327
|
|
New Braunfels
|
$327
|
|
Pearland
|
$327
|
|
Austin
|
$326
|
|
Alice
|
$322
|
|
La Porte
|
$322
|
|
Tomball
|
$322
|
|
San Marcos
|
$303
|
|
Midland
|
$297
|
|
|
|
|
|
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:
|
|
City
|
Average fine
for speeding 10 mph over limit in school zone
|
|
Huntsville
|
$312
|
|
College Station
|
$310
|
|
Alice
|
$305
|
|
Bryan
|
$285
|
|
Mesquite
|
$275
|
|
Kerrville
|
$272
|
|
Shenandoah
|
$272
|
|
Lewisville
|
$266
|
|
Bellaire
|
$250
|
|
Brownsville
|
$250
|
|
Denton
|
$250
|
|
Houston
|
$250
|
|
|
|
|
|
"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:
- Drive slowly in school zones. Watch for children in the road
and always obey crossing guards.
- Put down your phone, breakfast and make-up and focus on
driving.
- 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 (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good
Hands With Allstate®" 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. Consumers access Allstate insurance
products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through
Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive
financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®.
SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company - Texas Region