Letter to the Editor: Enforce ban on cellphone use while driving

Editor:

Where is the outrage? Propose chickens in town and there is all kinds of opposition with feedback to the councilmen. Why not with people driving with cellphones in their hands. How many accidents have there been or how many injured people have there been?

I have been concerned for some time that this ordinance isn’t being enforced. I see a lot of people driving with cell phones at their ear or texting. It doesn’t matter whether I’m driving my vehicle or the school bus.

There are some people who can multi-task, but there are many who should have all their attention on driving. I have had several people drive through the stop sign and red flashing lights on my bus when loading and unloading students. I fear for my students. The young ones don’t always look when crossing the street. While we have a system in which they are supposed to watch the driver and get the go-ahead to cross, but they sometimes don’t.

If you remember, the ordinance was passed because one of our councilmen was hit by an employee of Montana State University-Northern who was possibly texting. The councilman was injured and his motorcycle was damaged. He is a caring person, and I know he doesn’t want anyone else injured or killed.

If there is an accident and the possibility that a cellphone was involved, it is possible to check the history of that phone and see all the details. How hard is it to get a search warrant?

If this is a poor ordinance, then fix it. Just because another, immature, councilman — no longer on City Council — made a mockery of our local judicial system, then again, fix the ordinance, don’t ignore it.

Other communities have a no-cellphone-use while driving ordinance. The state of Montana is working on covering the whole state. There may be a way to word the ordinance to make it enforceable.

I do know that if there is an ordinance/law on the books, and it is not enforced and something happens, then the community/state can be sued.

Please contact your council member:

Ward 1: Pam Hillery, 406-265-4455, Terry Lilletvedt, 265-8619.

Ward 2: Brian Barrows, 262-7020, Janet Trethewey 265-8023

Ward 3: Allen Woodwick, 262-7797, Jay Pyette, 945-0272

Ward 4: Andrew Brekke, 265-5256, Matt Boucher, 399-1073.

If you don’t know what ward you live in, go to the city of Havre website or call City Hall at 265-6719.

Michael Badgley

Havre