Austin bans talking on your cell-phone while driving your car

Come January, using your hand-held cell phone while driving inside Austin will be illegal, the Austin American-Statesmen reports.

Thursday, the city council voted to expand the current ordinance prohibiting texting while driving.

Use of navigation devices, digital music players and other hand-held electronics while driving are also included in the ban. Cyclists also fall under this law.

Hands-free devices are still permitted. Emergency communications, like dialing 911, is also permitted.