Cell phone ban enforcement update

After a week of educational enforcement, outreach to our major employers, the schools, and the Evanston community, and installation of signs at the City's gateways, ticketed enforcement of the handheld cell phone ban began in mid-March.  In the first month, Evanston Police Department issued almost 70 tickets for violations of the ban, including 15 citations for use of a handheld device in a school zone (a State vehicle code violation). 

 

While compliance with the ban on handheld cell phone use while driving has been neither immediate nor universal, we're making progress.  Speeding and running stop signs remain a major safety issue as well.  And while we know that even hands-free talking while driving is just as risky, the new handheld ban is a good first step. 

 

Thank you again to the Evanston Bicycle Club and the Active Transportation Alliance for supporting Evanston's new handheld cell phone ban.  Their endorsement of the ordinance and the its expertise members offered during the City Council's deliberations were important.   

 

Jane