2000-117 Ordinance - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF NORTH OLMSTED ORDINANCE NO. 2000-117 BY: COUNCILMAN NASHAR AN ORDINANCE CREATING NEW SECTION 331.42 OF THE TRAFFIC CODE, ENTITLED "USE OF MOBILE TELEPHONES WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, " IN ORDER TO REGULATE THE USE OF MOBILE (CELL) PHONES WHILE OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLES ON ROADS AND STREETS WITHIN THE CITY OF NORTH OLMSTED, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY, AS AMENDED FOR THE FOURTH TIME. WHEREAS, it is common knowledge that more and more motorists on the roads and highways today are using mobile or cell phones while driving; and WHEREAS, according to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the risk of a motorist causing an accident while simultaneously driving his car and using a mobile or cell phone is approximately the same as driving a car with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit; and WHEREAS, other public interest groups and governmental agencies, including the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the Center for Urban Transportation Research, the Insurance Research Council, and the National Public Services Research Institute, have conducted similar studies which have documented the traffic safety hazards associated with the use of mobile or cell phones while a operating motor vehicle; and WHEREAS, this Council accordingly finds that the use of mobile or cell phones while operating a motor vehicle on the roads and streets of North Olmsted poses a substantial risk of injury and death to residents of the City, and thereby directly affects the public health, safety and welfare; and WHEREAS, this Council desires to regulate the use of mobile or cell phones in motor vehicles so as to lessen the risk of injury or death to residents of the City; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of this Council that this Ordinance should remain in effect for an initial one year period only, so that the City may, during the said one year period, study the benefits of the enforcement of this Ordinance and determine whether the local regulation of cell phone use while driving motor vehicles in the City of North Olmsted should continue;