Harrisburg won’t be banning hand-held cell phones and texting while driving — at least not yet.

A proposal that would ban the practice in the city was amended at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Councilwoman Gloria Martin-Roberts, the bill’s sponsor, originally proposed hefty penalties that included jail time on a third offense. She has since reconsidered after soliciting recommendations from council members.

“The use of cell phones has almost created an epidemic of accidents,” Martin-Roberts said, adding that the penalties do not diminish the seriousness of the issue.

The amended bill calls for slapping offenders on a first offense with a $100 fine, a $250 fine for a second offense, a $500 fine for the third offense and $1,000 fine for the fourth and subsequent offenses.

People caught texting or talking on a hand-held phone while driving near or a school or a construction zone would face double fines. No fine can exceed $1,000.

The bill is expected to come up for a vote Dec. 8. If it passes, Mayor Stephen R. Reed would have to sign off on it.

Matthew Coulter, the mayor’s spokesman, responded in an e-mail that he had not had a chance to speak to Reed about his position.

The bill would go into effect 60 days after its passage, Martin-Roberts said.