SAN ANTONIO — It's not uncommon for Councilman Mike Gallagher's daily commute from the Northeast Side to City Hall to include drivers drifting into his lane.

Now the freshman councilman, a Republican, wants to take on distracted driving.

On Wednesday, he filed paperwork seeking a council vote on strengthening the city's existing ordinance that bans texting while driving. Gallagher has asked the council to support an ordinance that would prohibit hand-held cellphone use by drivers.

“Public safety is the bottom line,” Gallagher said. “If this saves one life, it's worth it.”

Since 2010, it's been illegal to text while driving in San Antonio, but officials acknowledge that enforcing the ban has proven difficult.

“I said in the beginning when this was passed that it would be a difficult law to enforce,” Police Chief William McManus said. “No. 1, it's difficult for officers to see what you're doing below the door line. No. 2, how do you differentiate texting from dialing a phone number? That's what makes it difficult to enforce.”

Banning usage of any device that isn't hands-free would make it easier to enforce, and Gallagher's proposal could do that.

He's asked city staff to add a provision to the ordinance banning texting while driving that only allows mobile device use in a “hands-free capacity” unless it's an emergency situation.

Gallagher has enough support to bring the issue before the council's Governance Committee, and Mayor Ivy Taylor said she's keeping an open mind and hopes to learn whether it might make a difference. Several council members have endorsed the concept in theory.

“I think it's a great idea,” Councilman Ray Lopez said. “I think it's worth discussing, but I think it will be difficult to implement.”

Newly appointed Councilman Keith Toney said he recognizes the issue with distracted driving and said “something needs to be done.”

And Councilman Rey Saldaña grudgingly said requiring hands-free device use is the right thing to do. He said he's guilty of using his phone while driving.

“I'm not going to like this,” he said. “But it's for the best.”

Councilman Joe Krier and Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales also offered support.

Gonzales said “the fewer the distractions while driving, the better — our streets will be safer.”

Councilman Ron Nirenberg said he believes there's no doubt about the facts.

“There is a preponderance of evidence that suggests that distracted driving, as result of using hand-held devices, causes the vast majority of accidents related to people not paying attention,” he said. “The technology available allows us to really reconsider whether we should have a total ban” on handheld device usage.

Not everyone at City Hall, however, is ready to offer support.

Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, chairwoman of the council's Public Safety Committee, said she's yet to see the proposal and hasn't formed an opinion.

And Councilman Diego Bernal, one of the most liberal members of the council, voiced reservations.

“My first reaction is that's over-regulating, but I'm willing to listen to the chief and to our public safety people,” Bernal said. “They're in a better position than I am to know.”

Gov. Rick Perry twice has vetoed bills that would ban texting while driving in the state.

Gallagher said the issue is one that transcends political lines and needs to be addressed to keep the public safe.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Administration, 14 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held communications devices.

A few Texas cities already have similar ordinances, including Corpus Christi, El Paso and Amarillo. According to news reports, Austin is considering a proposal similar to what Gallagher has recommended.

Gallagher said that besides his personal experiences with distracted drivers, he's heard countless tales from District 10 residents who have experienced similar situations.

“I've had numerous constituents tell me their lives have been put into danger,” he said.

Staff Writer Nolan Hicks contributed to this report.

jbaugh@express-news.net