The Top 5 Cell Phone Laws for Teenage Drivers In Texas

We all do the best that we can to ensure that our teens have the best possible chance to succeed in life. What if you knew that your teen could be arrested for simply using their cell phone? Did you know that at least 10 bills addressing texting and driving were considered during 2011 by Texas lawmakers? Here are 5 cell phone laws that you and your teen need to be aware of before it’s too late.

Restricted Cell Phone Use

Teens under the age of 18 with a license are restricted from any wireless communications device use while driving in the state of Texas. Make sure that if your teen has a cell phone, they are aware of the consequences of using their phone while driving.

Learner’s Permit Restrictions

Teens with a learner’s permit are restricted from using any handheld cell phone during the first six months of driving.

School Crossing Zones

All drivers in the State of Texas are prohibited from using their cell phones in school crossing zones. This includes texting and talking on your cell phone.

Restrictions on Texting

Texting is now partially restricted for Texas drivers according to House Bill 243 that was passed in April of 2011. Although drivers are allowed to receive text messages while driving, they are no longer allowed to type or send messages of any kind. If caught texting while driving, you could be fined up to $200 dollars.

Teen Sexting Laws

Sexting is what occurs when cell phone users send each other sexually explicit messages on their wireless devices. Previously, anyone who transmits sexually explicit pictures of minors over wireless communications devices would be charged with a felony for trafficking or possessing child pornography. A new law would change the felony charge to a Class C misdemeanor charge for underage first-time violators.

It is difficult to always be aware of the new laws that are put into place. Unless you constantly monitor the news, you might not be aware that you could be doing something illegal. Teens are especially vulnerable to this because they are not experienced drivers and they can be easily overwhelmed with new rules and expectations placed on them.

What laws have your teens violated? What laws were new to you? Let us know!

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Worried about your teen and their cell phone? Check out our video on Teen Cell Phone Dangers. For just $19.99, it could save your child’s life.

What’s the Best Way to Protect Your Teen From Their Cell Phone?

Some say that technology is the best protection for kids from cell phone issues, and there’s no question that technology is important. Items like Kajeet are great ways to helps teens and kids become more responsible with cell phones.

Does that fix the problem, though? Hardly.

Why Is Technology Not Enough?

Technology is not enough because it’s an after-the-fact solution. History shows that all rules can be broken if someone really wants to break them.

Therefore, the only real way to get through to your kids is to help them understand why the rules exist.

What Education Really Works For Teens

Parents know that kids have tuned them out (for the most part) by the time their kids turn 12 or even earlier. Therefore, other kids and adults may have a better time getting through to teens.

Our teen cell phone video is one of those methods. It gives lessons not just from Mom and Dad, but from lawyers, doctors, and other teens.

Take some time to look at our preview and see for yourself if a little education plus technology isn’t the right thing for your teen. Click here for a preview

From Cell Phone to Porsche: A Teen Cell Phone Success Story

There are a lot of scary stories out there about teens and cell phones, so we thought we would share an uplifting story this week.

A 17 year-old from Glendora, CA worked for two years to get a Porsche from Craigslist. He started with just trying to sell a cellular telephone. With patience and a knack for bartering, this teen worked his way up to a Porsche. The whole story is found at this link.

Of course, safety is key at TeenCellSafety.org, so we should point out that parents should closely monitor what their teens do on the Internet and with their cell phones. However, it’s very nice to see that some teens are putting good use to their cell phones, as opposed to putting up embarrassing or illegal pictures or becoming dangers on the road.

Please share your stories of positivity and pride in your teens. We want to hear them.

Astounding Results From High School Program on Teen Cell Phone Safety

Last Thursday I spoke to a group of Dallas high school juniors about the dangers of cell phone use, and the results surprised even me. Here are just a few of the unbelievable things that came out of the program:

• Of the roughly 150 teens present, only one teen was able to describe any real education given to her by her parents about cell phone use;
• Nearly every class could describe a personal driving accident involving a cell phone, some of which were fatal; and
• None of these teens truly understood the connection between sexting and child pornography.

Now take those facts, and compare them with the following:

• Approximately 20% of all teens have sent or received a sexually explicit images of themselves or their friends;
• The penalty for teen sexting is between 5 and 20 years for each count, if it rises to the level of child pornography; and
• Even without cell phones, driving is the number one cause of death for kids between the ages of 15 and 20.

With these results in mind, it’s time that we, as parents, understood these dangers and started talking to our kids about them. Even if you don’t have teens or kids, we all drive with them every day. Without this vital education, it harms all of us.

Please take a stand today, and forward this to as many parents as you know. It could save someone’s life, even your own.

Cell Phone Addiction Is Real

Ever panic when you can’t find your phone? I do.

Ever had that lost feeling when you’ve left your phone at home or at work? I have.

Ever had to consciously tell yourself to put the phone down long enough to concentrate on driving? I have.

And yet, as bad as these behaviors are, they still pale in comparison to actual cell phone addiction, which according to one recent study from China found in this article from DrugRehabTreatment.com, “nearly one-third of high school students show[] signs of [cell phone] addiction.”

So What Is Cell Phone Addiction?

According to the above article:

The symptoms of cell phone addiction are similar to the symptoms of other types of addictions, and may include the following:

• Feeling restless or uncomfortable when not using a cell phone;
• Having irrational reactions to being without a phone if it is lost or forgotten;
• Substantial increases in the amount of time spent talking on a cell phone;
• Mounting cell phone bills that cause financial distress;
• Problems at school and work from constant cell phone use;
• Interpersonal problems from constant cell phone use; or
• Taking unnecessary risks such as using a cell phone during inappropriate times (driving, etc.).

How To Tell If You’re Teen Has Cell Phone Addiction

Aside from knowing and looking out for the warning signs of cell phone addiction referenced above, that same article listed several good suggestions to counteract cell phone addition. We’ve modified a few of them to apply to your teens. These include:

• Setting specific times during the day when your teen can use their cell phone,
• Make time for activities and hobbies that aren’t conducive to being on the phone, such as sports, watching a movie in a theater, or spending time with friends.
• Foster healthy relationships with your teens that are strong enough to last a few hours or days without constant contact.

There’s one last thing to keep in mind. Your teens watch what you do, and they often imitate your behavior. Focusing on healthy cell phone behavior yourself can also go a long way to shaping your teen’s focus on their cell phone use.

What behaviors have you seen from your teen that might be cell phone addiction? What are you doing that could be leading that way? Let us know!

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COMING SOON – SPECIAL REPORT ON

TEEN CELL PHONE SAFETY

TeenCellSafety.org is about to launch its free Special Report on Teen Cell Phone Safety. Check back soon for details!

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