The proposed Urbana cell phone ban has advanced in Urbana, with the Council unanimously asking the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for consideration.
Alderman Charlie Smyth, D-Ward 1, who proposed the ban, Ralph Lewis, D-Ward 3, Prussing and Alderman Brandon Bowersox, D-Ward 4, all raised their hands when asked if they supported a ban – though Bowersox only raised his hand slightly and indicated afterward that he's still thinking about the issue.
Chynoweth, D-Ward 2, said she would like to ban use of handheld cell phones while driving, but allow use of hands-free cell phones. Lynne Barnes, D-Ward 7, said she would like to consider strong penalties for someone who gets into a traffic accident while talking on a cell phone.
Dennis Roberts, D-Ward 5, and Heather Stevenson, R-Ward 6, did not appear enthusiastic about such an ordinance.
The Gestapo would also be prohibited from 2-way communications while driving, right?
it's not clear to me from the straw poll vote that a majority would vote for this (yet, anyway). if the mayor gets a vote then it will require 5 votes to pass i believe, and only 4 voted for it. chynoweth wants a change i'm not sure others would go for. it's not clear from the article whether barnes likes the ordinance but also wants higher penalties for accidents involving phones, or if she wants the higher penalities in lieu of the ban.
but i didn't watch the meeting, which would likely have enlightened my confusion. can anyone else fill in the gaps?
This is an issue (not unlike public smoking) that needs to be legislated at the State level. Laws need to be fair, and consistent, otherwise how does someone traversing Urbana on 74 know that cell phonage is verboten?
The ordinance could be written just to apply to residents of Champaign County.
There are all sorts of rules and fees, such as hotel taxes, that penalize non-locals. This suggestion is a chance to even the score
illinipunditposter
On March 25th, 2008 at 04:53 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:
" otherwise how does someone traversing Urbana on 74 know that cell phonage is verboten?"
Maybe they could put some signs like the ones that proclaim "Home of Miss America 1999" Too bad the sign did not give Her name, How about a billboard, "Welcome to a nuclear free, cell phone free, We don't want anything modern zone!!!!!!
This thing started to spiral out of control last night.
The Mayor, at one point, started referencing the research that cell phones distract you while your driving. THEN she questioned cell phones distracting you while your walking across a street! She questioned whether pedestrians should be prohibited from walking across the street while talking on your cell phone?
Where will it stop? What about ipods? What if you go to dinner at Milos- have a glass of wine or two then walk to Crane Alley for some pool with some alcohol in your blood stream- is that a distraction too? should that be illegal? SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL. As expected in Urbana.
I am 100% in favor of banning talking on cell phone while crossing the street. The stupid U of I teens routinely engage in the dangerous practice of crossing streets while totally engrossed in their (usually pointless) conversations.
Truckers and CBs
Drivers and Cell phones
Is there any difference ?
illinipunditposter
Negatory, Good Buddy.
You also need to ban food/makeup/shaving/reading and screaming children in the back of mini vans from Urbana as well, as they can all be called distractions.
I still wonder just what it is everyone seems to have the desperate need to talk about while driving.
DISCLAIMER: (HoneyDoll.. I advise you not read this post)
I have noticed (and anyone can do a head count while driving down the street) that women seem to have the biggest problem with this. I'd say nine of ten people I see chatting on the phone and swerving in and out of traffic are female. Lets just ban cell phones for women and that wipes out 90% of the problem.
CRD
My wife would argue that if you banned me from using a cell phone while driving that would wipe out 90 percent of the problem.
I'd like to take that idea one step further. I suggest that we simply prohibit women from driving altogether.
03:07 PM, curious
You were right of point on the previous post. Four will carry it. Mayor always gets a vote, she is the tie break in this case.
Did you watch the meeting on TV? I thought the Mayor started to ramble and cross back and forth.
I also see she started to do the polling place two step and was suggesting she is teaching the residents correct cell phone usage, how to scoop driveways, etc. And doesn't want a heavy handed ordinance.
Queen Prussing is also taking us to raise. Geeze, does anybody know when Dr. Kavorkian is gonna get out, with her as their "Mom" many might want his services.
Gordy,
At times, my wife has threatened me with a physical insertion of my phone into a pretty unpleasant place, but never driving.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield
"This is an issue (not unlike public smoking) that needs to be legislated at the State level."
NO---this is a national safety issue which will not be handled by the Overpaid, Underworked Representatives in DC.
Local,
I think the National Approach is a violation of the Constitutional Rights given the States. But is is a State Issue, not a local issue. There is no effective way of allowing each individual City or Village the right to make it against the law. It would not be effective, and would only be a way to increase traffic violation revenue. It would be a source of misuse by the local law enforcement to get more money.
Think not? Travel to some of the smaller towns like Homer and Sidell. They have police traps that are set up by strip extensions of Village limits so you are speeding when you are hundreds of feet from the actual development of the City. Comming from the West into Homer, there is a trap that the police officer sets in a subdivision and shoots down the road which makes a curve and is 1/4 mile from the actual development.
Just set up a trap on Green Street, or University Ave, or Bradley, or Windsor Road and the traffic ticket revenues will jump and nothing will be accomplished.
I posted in the orginal blog that this is a way to make money, and it is.
Watch Mayor Prussing flip-flop on this matter in the meeting.
This is simply not a local issue, they should contact Naomi or Mike and see if they want to sponsor a Bill. If not, then leave it be. Trust me, it will not pass the State, because the politicians spend so much time on the phone while they are traveling.
But here might be some population counts that could allow the larger Cities. For instance, many of the Surveying laws are different for cities or counties that have a population greater than 500,000.
The state might allow larger cities or counties that right, but not here.
To that end, I am, and shall always remain;
Rex Bradfield