Cellphone ban still topic of controversy in Chapel Hill

In the week since the Chapel Hill Town Council made the landmark decision to ban all cell phone use among drivers on municipal roads, Town Hall inboxes have been flooded with emails.

Some come from residents decrying the ban — which will be the first town ordinance in the country to outlaw both hands-free and handheld cellphone use for drivers when it goes into effect June 1.

“We totally expected this,” council member Penny Rich said. “We knew that there would not only be criticism, but a lack of understanding.”

But Rich, who championed the ban, said the criticism has not changed her mind.

Council member Gene Pease, who voted against the ban last Tuesday, said the criticism merely echoes his original concerns about the ban.

“The criticism that is coming in is consistent with how I feel about the ban,” he said.

Pease said he still worries about whether the ban is enforceable in light of caveats that allow drivers to call immediate family members and 911 while driving.

“It’s the exceptions,” he said. “I can talk to my family, but not my friends. And the police will have a hard time enforcing that.”

Chapel Hill police Sgt. Joshua Mecimore said since the ban is a secondary offense, it is extremely difficult to enforce.

“The chief made it clear to the council that there are difficulties that surround enforcing this type of ban,” he said.

But Mecimore said the ban is an opportunity to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving.

“I think the hope is that it will discourage from distracted driving, which is certainly something that we have tried to focus on over the past couple of years,” he said.

And council member Lee Storrow said despite problems with enforcement, he stands by his decision to approve the ban.

“I still support the ban because this isn’t just a ban against using a cellphone while driving, it is a ban against driving poorly while using a cellphone,” he said.

National insurance groups like Governors Highway Safety Association also support the ban.

Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the group, said despite the problems with enforcement the ban is a step in the right direction.

“There are some legal challenges, but it still sends the message that Chapel Hill acknowledges a problem with distracted driving,” he said.

Despite concerns, Rich said she has also seen encouraging emails.

“There are a lot of people on the other side that are saying they are really happy about it,” she said. “A lot of them are asking ‘What took so long?’”

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