State Laws Prohibit Cities from Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Employees of both Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County are now prohibited from talking on cell phones while driving. Recent research indicates people talking on their cell phones can be as dangerous as drunk drivers. So why not ban all drivers from using cell phones?

"I would advocate for that, but we have unfortunately a state statute that unbelievably prevents cities from passing ordinances that prohibit or restrict cell phone use by drivers," says Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.

Anderson calls the law "inexplicable."

Representative Wayne Harper, who sponsored the bill, says the irregular boundaries of cities in Utah makes it quote "unreasonable for drivers to guess which city they are in and what the particular cell phone law may be." Harper says the law needs to be consistent statewide.

However, lawmakers defeated one such attempt to crack down on distracted driving this year. Opposing lawmakers argued a cell-phone ban violates personal freedoms.

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