EL PASO, Texas -- In places like Dallas, you can get a ticket for using a handheld cell phone when driving through a school zone. “You're taking your own life and lives of others into consideration. I think that your full attention should be on what your doing not on who you're talking to,” said Colleen Richard of West El Paso.

Recently the Dallas city council unanimously approved an ordinance banning motorists from using handheld mobile phones while driving in school zones. The ordinance also prohibits text messaging.

"I think it's a really bad idea to be on the phone, it's easy to get very distracted on the phone,” said Melanie Fusco of West El Paso.

With thousands of kids back to school this week, some El Paso parents worry distracted drivers will pose a threat to their children. “You have to be right on with your reactions because you never know when they're going to dart out, in school zones especially,” Richard said. The no-cell phone rule is something El Paso Independent School District administrators would also like. "I think it's a good solution to making sure people are not driving with their cell phone. When people are distracted they tend to make more mistakes and that puts our children’s safety at risk,” said EPISD spokeswoman Berenice Zubia.

The Dallas ordinance only allows drivers to use their cell phone with a hands-free device. Using it without one can cost up to a $200 fine. "What price are you going to put on a child's life, $200 might get the message across before somebody loses their life,” said Lisa Mc Neil of West El Paso.

KFOX spoke with El Paso city officials who said at this time an ordinance banning drivers from using handheld cell phones won't be in effect and hasn’t been taking into consideration, but they do say they have added more traffic patrol officers at all school zones.