SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Spanish Fort residents appear to be taking stern warnings to heart and resisting the urge to text while driving.

The city’s ordinance prohibiting the use of wireless communications devices while driving took effect May 18, and Spanish Fort Police Chief David Edgar said there have been zero violations reported or logged since the law took effect.

"To my knowledge we haven’t issued any citations, and we haven’t had any complaints taken at dispatch. From what I’m hearing, none of our officers have witnessed anything suspicious enough in the past two days for them to feel comfortable writing a ticket," Edgar said.

The City Council voted unanimously in April to adopt the measure making distracted driving a primary offense within the city limits, meaning texting violations can be cited on their own in the absence of any other violations.

Specifically, the ordinance prohibits the operation of a vehicle "upon any highway, roadway, street or alley while using a wireless communication device to read or write messages, including, but not limited to, text messages, instant messages and electronic mail."

Exceptions are allowed for:

• Emergency personnel performing their job duties.
• Individuals making or receiving phone calls.
• Individuals making emergency calls.
• Individuals using the devices while the vehicle is parked "on the shoulder of the highway, roadway or street" or stopped "due to normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or park.
• Individuals using global-positioning systems or other navigation units.

Under the new law, first-time violators are subject to a fine of $100 and/or as many as 10 days in jail; second offenses carry $200 fines and/or as many as 30 days in jail; third and subsequent offenses carry $500 fines and/or as many as three months in jail.