Powell Passes Cell Phone Ordinance
Written by Andrew-Rossi on November 27, 2017
If you’re driving in the Powell City Limits and look at your phone, you will be in violation of a new ordinance that passed the City Council last week.
An ordinance banning the handheld use of cellphones while driving passed unanimously on its final reading at Monday’s City Council meeting. The ordinance was proposed earlier this year after Council Member Scott Mangold reported that he had escaped serious injury after nearly being run over by a driver talking on a cell phone.
According to an article in the Powell Tribune, a citizen at Monday’s meeting raised several questions about the enforcement of the new law, as he said he had witnessed several times local law enforcement talking on cell phones while driving. Mangold responded that the police officers would be subject to the new law, just like everyone else.
The new law will take effect January 1st, and according to the article, Police Chief Roy Eckerdt urged citizens to make it a New Year’s Resolution not to talk on your phone while you’re driving in Powell – or if you do, make sure it’s in a hands-free mode.