To improve safety on roadways, a Texas state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would prohibit drivers in the state from talking on hand-held cell phones while driving.

Drivers would be prohibited from using the devices while behind the wheel. Talking on a phone equipped with a "hands-free" accessory would still be permitted.

Sponsored by Rep. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, the bill would make it a secondary offense to drive while chatting - meaning a person would have to be pulled over for another violation, such as speeding, before they could be ticketed for talking on the phone. It also would prohibit drivers from text messaging, using a personal digital assistant such as a Blackberry, and using laptop computers.

Violators would face up to $100 fines. If the offense occurred within a school crossing zone, the fine would be as much as $200. Emergency calls would be exempted.

Currently, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York have the only statewide laws restricting cell phone use in vehicles. In 2008, California is slated to implement its own rule. Other states also are looking into implementing their own rules.

Supporters of the effort in Texas say that studies show how cell phones distract drivers and lead to vehicle wrecks. They cite the most recent state statistics that show the number of cell phone related vehicle wrecks increased nearly 50 percent from 2000 to 2001, KTVT-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth reported.

However, other studies show that hands-free and hand-held phones are equally distracting. Opponents of cell phone restrictions also say that talking on cell phones is no more distracting than eating, drinking or changing radio stations while driving.

In fact, research by the University of North Carolina determined that cell phone use ranked eighth in terms of distraction, The Patriot-News reported.

Menendez' bill - HB201 - is in the House Transportation Committee.