Phoenix suburb of Surprise approves ban on mobile devices while driving
Aug 8, 2018, 9:26 AM | Updated: 11:27 am
(Pexels Photo)
PHOENIX – A West Valley suburb is making it illegal to use a mobile device — except in hands-free mode — while driving.
The Surprise City Council voted to approve the distracted driving ordinance at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“I think everyone agrees that it should be a state law, but if our leaders in Phoenix are not going to act, we should act,” Councilman Roland Winters Jr. said during the meeting.
The law goes into effect in 30 days. After that, violators will be subject to fines of up to $250.
“This ordinance is another tool in the ‘Drive Wise, Surprise’ campaign to encourage safe driving habits,” Surprise Police Chief Terry Young said in a news release. “The only place your eyes should be while driving is on the road. No text message or phone call is worth risking a collision.”
Councilman Skip Hall proposed the ordinance.
“A car can be a dangerous device if you don’t pay attention to it while you’re driving,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM in June.
Drivers using mobile devices to communicate with emergency personnel and on-duty public safety workers are exempt from the regulation.
Also, two-way radio communication remains legal as long as the vehicle is being operated safely.
There is no statewide law banning drivers from using cellphones and other hand-held devices, but several counties and cities in Arizona have passed similar ordinances.
Some cities, including Phoenix and Flagstaff, prohibit texting while driving, while Tempe’s distracted driver ordinance lets police officers cite drivers for talking on the phone or texting if they pose a risk. In Tucson, police officers can issue a ticket to anyone caught using a cellphone while driving.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.