http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/article_1285f186-0f44-11e1-9170-001cc4c002e0.html
Bozeman City Commission approves ban on hand-held cell phones while driving
Posted: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 12:15 am | Updated: 9:42 pm, Mon Nov 14, 2011.
The Bozeman City Commission voted 4-1 Monday night to adopt an ordinance banning the use of hand-held devices such as cell phones, laptop computers and GPS navigations systems while driving or bicycling.
"Using a cell phone when you're driving is dangerous," Commissioner Carson Taylor said.
"We're going to have to change the way that we do our business and the way that we communicate with others," Deputy Mayor Sean Becker said.
The commission will consider a second, final passage of the ordinance on Nov. 28. Commissioner Chris Mehl stipulated that the law not go into effect any earlier than Jan. 17, so city officials have time to educate people.
Mayor Jeff Krauss cast the lone vote "no."
"I'm voting ‘no' for the same reason I vote ‘yes' on things like individual rights," Krauss said.
Under the ordinance, if you're caught texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone while behind the wheel, you could be pulled over and fined $100. Using a hands-free communications device such as Bluetooth, however, is allowed.
Commissioners on Monday night changed language in the ordinance to exempt drivers on Interstate 90, who may not even realize they're in the city of Bozeman. Plus, highway patrol officers monitoring highways don't enforce each individual city's laws.
Commissioners also edited a section to allow hands-free users to touch their Bluetooth, or other device, so they can answer calls without violating the law.
Bozeman's ordinance is similar to laws in Butte-Silver Bow, Billings, Whitefish and Helena. Missoula has a ban on texting while driving.
Nine states, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. No state bans hands-free cell phone use for the general public. Some states ban all cell phone use by novice and school bus drivers.
Sixteen people spoke during the public comment portion of Monday night's commission meeting.
Ann Justin opposed the law.
"I find being with my daughter in the car more distracting than talking on my phone - we're arguing about something," Justin said. "How about if you've got two 5-year-olds in the backseat? ... How about political discussions? ... How about eating a hamburger? There are many things that are more distracting, I think, than talking on the phone. I'm capable of doing that."
Gary Vodehnal, vice chairman of the city's Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee, said he recently witnessed a woman crash into another car while talking on her cell phone. She got out of her car, but stayed on the call until Vodehnal, who was bicycling behind her, approached her and suggested she call police.
"She finally said into her phone, ‘Mom, I'm going to have to call you back. I need to take care of something,'" Vodehnal said.
Passing a "distracted-driving" ordinance "will improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers in our community," he said.
In an email to commissioners Monday, Bozeman resident Kent Madin criticized commissioners for allowing hands-free devices and not banning cell phone use entirely. He said the issue isn't whether both the driver's hands are on the wheel, he said.
"If it was, one-armed people couldn't get driver's licenses, nor could people with arms in slings, etc.," Madin said. "All cell phone use should be banned because of the amount of attention bandwidth the call consumes."
According to the federal Department of Transportation, 5,474 people died and another 448,000 were hurt in crashes involving all forms of distracted driving in 2009.
Using electronic devices while driving is distracting, but it's difficult to track how often using such devices causes crashes.
Sixty-three percent of drivers under age 30 acknowledge using a hand-held phone while behind the wheel, according to the DOT. Thirty percent said they've sent text messages while driving.
"Using a cell phone when you're driving is dangerous," Commissioner Carson Taylor said.
The commission will consider a second, final passage of the ordinance on Nov. 28. Commissioner Chris Mehl stipulated that the law not go into effect any earlier than Jan. 17, so city officials have time to educate people.
Mayor Jeff Krauss cast the lone vote "no."
"I'm voting ‘no' for the same reason I vote ‘yes' on things like individual rights," Krauss said.
Under the ordinance, if you're caught texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone while behind the wheel, you could be pulled over and fined $100. Using a hands-free communications device such as Bluetooth, however, is allowed.
Commissioners on Monday night changed language in the ordinance to exempt drivers on Interstate 90, who may not even realize they're in the city of Bozeman. Plus, highway patrol officers monitoring highways don't enforce each individual city's laws.
Commissioners also edited a section to allow hands-free users to touch their Bluetooth, or other device, so they can answer calls without violating the law.
Bozeman's ordinance is similar to laws in Butte-Silver Bow, Billings, Whitefish and Helena. Missoula has a ban on texting while driving.
Nine states, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. No state bans hands-free cell phone use for the general public. Some states ban all cell phone use by novice and school bus drivers.
Sixteen people spoke during the public comment portion of Monday night's commission meeting.
Ann Justin opposed the law.
"I find being with my daughter in the car more distracting than talking on my phone - we're arguing about something," Justin said. "How about if you've got two 5-year-olds in the backseat? ... How about political discussions? ... How about eating a hamburger? There are many things that are more distracting, I think, than talking on the phone. I'm capable of doing that."
Gary Vodehnal, vice chairman of the city's Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee, said he recently witnessed a woman crash into another car while talking on her cell phone. She got out of her car, but stayed on the call until Vodehnal, who was bicycling behind her, approached her and suggested she call police.
"She finally said into her phone, ‘Mom, I'm going to have to call you back. I need to take care of something,'" Vodehnal said.
Passing a "distracted-driving" ordinance "will improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers in our community," he said.
In an email to commissioners Monday, Bozeman resident Kent Madin criticized commissioners for allowing hands-free devices and not banning cell phone use entirely. He said the issue isn't whether both the driver's hands are on the wheel, he said.
"If it was, one-armed people couldn't get driver's licenses, nor could people with arms in slings, etc.," Madin said. "All cell phone use should be banned because of the amount of attention bandwidth the call consumes."
According to the federal Department of Transportation, 5,474 people died and another 448,000 were hurt in crashes involving all forms of distracted driving in 2009.
Using electronic devices while driving is distracting, but it's difficult to track how often using such devices causes crashes.
Sixty-three percent of drivers under age 30 acknowledge using a hand-held phone while behind the wheel, according to the DOT. Thirty percent said they've sent text messages while driving.
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