BEXLEY, OH (WCMH)–Cell phones are with most of us day and night. It is not uncommon to see people talking on them as they drive. But one local community is talking about banning hand-held ones when you are behind the wheel.
If this local ban on hand-held cellphones passes, talking on a hand-held cell phone could be legal in Columbus–and when you cross the boundary with Bexley, it would illegal.
Mayor Ben Kessler said the intent is not to trap people driving in Bexley, it is to deter distracted drivers.
“But what this does is give our police force the tool when they are out on patrol and they see a driver who is obviously and completely distracted, which is a too common condition, that they are able to stop that driver,” said Kessler.
He says in most cases, a warning will suffice. NBC4 asked several drivers what they thought about the proposed ban.
“It is very distracting and dangerous and there is enough distractions in the world as it is,” said Bradie Chapple.
Bill Schmidt says his truck is his office.
“Occasionally you will see someone on the phone as I would be, but I think for the most part everybody follows the law here, stays pretty slow within the speed limits, a lot of friendly people, why rock the boat?” Schmidt said.
Lawrence Goodlin says he would take the law a step further.
“I think cell phones in a car used any way is bad, because it distracts the driver from paying attention to what they are doing,” said Goodlin.
Kessler introduced the law at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting and said after a couple more hearings, council could vote on it by the middle of September.
The mayor said another issue is how difficult it is for police to tell when a driver is texting, which is illegal, or dialing a number, which at present isn’t.
Bexley has 13,000 citizens and is surrounded by Columbus. This would be the first Central Ohio community to pass a ban. Bexley passed a texting and driving ban before Ohio made it illegal.