- April 19, 2024
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Distracted driving has been upgraded from a secondary to a primary offense in Tempe, Arizona, meaning police officers can cite drivers simply “for holding, typing on or operating a mobile device while driving,” according to a report of a March 1 meeting of the Tempe City Council, on tempe.gov. Should Palm Coast do the same?
Palm Coast resident Celia Pugliese addressed the Palm Coast City Council during the public comment portion of the April 9 workshop and asked the council to be a “pioneer” among cities and pass a similar ordinance.
Pugliese was in a car crash while she was waiting at a red light in the past, she told the City Council.
“'Boom' from behind,” she said, “somebody was texting and hit me.”
Mayor Milissa Holland asked the city attorney to examine the Tempe ordinance. She also spoke about the issue at the March 19 City Council meeting, Sheriff Rick Staly gave an update on statewide efforts.
Giving deputies more authority to enforce a ban on texting while driving is the Florida Police Chiefs Association’s No. 1 legislative priority this year, Staly told the council on March 19. It was also a priority last year, but action was delayed because attention was diverted, appropriately, to respond to the shooting in Parkland, he said.
Today in Florida, a deputy can’t pull over someone for texting, but the person can be pulled over for weaving or speeding, and then given a second ticket for distracted driving where appropriate, Staly said.
That isn’t a strong enough response, Holland said.
“I’m on the road a lot for my job, and I can tell you that it’s alarming when you see someone texting and driving with their knees on the steering wheel,” she said.
This year, Staly predicted, “there’s a good likelihood” that a distracted driving ban will pass. And, according to the News Service of Florida, the State Affairs Committee recently supported House Bill 107, which would "shift texting while driving from a 'secondary' offense to a 'primary' offense." The bill goes to the Rules Committee next.
Norbert Nielebock, of Palm Coast, asked for an update on efforts to solve homelessness. "It's a sad, sad situation," he said during the public comment portion of the workshop, adding that the government needs to get the churches involved.
Holland said the city and county are working closely to work on the issue, through the Public Safety Coordinating Council. She said that as of that day, April 9, "they have brought in the churches to that dialogue. ... We will be seeing some progress on that issue. ... We need to move forward with compassion."
