More than 1,000 drivers were ticketed under the city's new hands-free ordinance in February, the first month police enforced the ban.

The suburban cities in and around San Antonio, however, give drivers a number of areas where they won't be ticketed for talking or texting on their phone.

See where you can still hold a phone and drive in Bexar County

From Feb. 1 through Feb. 27, the San Antonio Police Department issued 1,051 tickets under the hands-free ordinance. During the grace period month of January, officers had issued 1,306 warnings.

The ordinance, unanimously passed by city council in November, prohibits motorists from touching their phones while driving, requiring them to use Bluetooth, car speakers or other hands-free methods to talk on the phone.

Drivers can use a hand to activate or deactive a call, but cannot hold the phone while talking — even if talking on speaker phone.

The maximum fine for such a ticket is $200.

While San Antonio drivers are still getting used to the new driving rules, the ordinance does not apply to nearby cities where drivers can still legally text and drive.

Even in these areas, though, Texas law prohibits use of mobile devices while driving in school zones.

No ordinances prohibit talking and texting while driving in Alamo Heights, Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village, Leon Valley, Olmos Park, Balcones Heights, Terrell Hills and Kirby.

There are no bans on using a mobile device while driving in Shavano Park, though Police Chief David Creed said he expects that to change this year..

In Castle Hills, drivers can't send, read or type text or photos and they can’t play games on their phones while driving — but they can dial phone numbers and hold their phone while talking.

Converse has a ban on texting and playing games on phones while driving but motorists can dial phone numbers and talk on the phone.

In Helotes, drivers can't text or access the Internet with phones but can talk on them.

In Universal City, you can't use your “wireless communication device” to view, send, or compose text or emails while operating a motor vehicle but you can text/email when the vehicle is stopped, make or receive a phone call anytime and use your phone for emergency purposes.

Windcrest similarly bans using “a hand-held mobile communication device” while driving to send, read, or write text messages, look at pictures or written text, play games or for any other use except dialing and talking and using it as a GPS.

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