Public Safety Director Lou Dekmar discussed the proposal, which originated through Mayor Jeff Lukken, at Tuesday’s council work session. The ordinance is aimed at boosting traffic safety, officials said.
“In 2005, which is the most current data, there were 2,600 fatal accidents that were attributed to texting” nationwide, Dekmar said. “… It’s probably 6 percent” of fatalities.
The ordinance would make it unlawful for anyone to text while driving in the city. Those who look like they may be texting can be presumed by officers that they are reading, sending or creating a message, but the drivers can rebut the presumption by giving the officer the phones and showing that they weren’t.
The fine would be $50 for the first offense and $100 for each subsequent offense.
Much like a presumed drunken driver can refuse to take a breathalyzer test, a presumed texter can refuse to give up his phone, Lukken said.
“Texting is 20 times, maybe 100 times, more dangerous than talking on the phone, and more and more kids are doing it,” he said. “It’s a dramatically growing problem, exponentially. Young kids and adults are now doing it.”
Councilwoman Norma Tucker said the ordinance would be more significant if it created a violation for any use of a cell phone “than to just say specifically texting, because then you’re targeting the young people most often.”
Lukken said texting drivers are hard to detect.
“Very few, if ever, are the police officers going to be driving down the road and seeing someone texting and pulling them over,” he said. “I wish it were that simple. It never will be.”
After the hearing at council’s Sept. 8 meeting, two readings on the ordinance will be held.
Trey Wood can be reached at twood@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228.
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