Whitefish enforcing cellphone ban for drivers

The Whitefish Police Department has issued close to 50 citations to violators of the city’s ban on cellphone use while driving within city limits.

The law took effect six months ago, but police officers gave the traveling public a 30-day grace period during which only warnings were issued, Police Chief Bill Dial said.

After that, violators have been cited and fined $100 for the first offense.

Repeat offenders face fines up to $300.

“We’re seeing a high number of people complying,” Dial said. “Some have claimed to not know about the law, but the majority of the people are supportive. We don’t get much pushback.”

Signs were erected at each entrance to the city informing drivers about the local ordinance.

Even so, a couple of motorists who have been cited have requested a jury trial at Whitefish Municipal Court, Dial said, because they claim the signs don’t give adequate warning to drivers.

“You can’t blame the signs for everything,” he said. “Drivers are responsible to know the [traffic] laws.”

The ban includes wireless or cellular phones, personal digital assistants, Blackberries, smartphones, laptop and notebook computers utilizing voice-over Internet protocol technology, wireless and cellular phones utilizing push-to-talk technology, GPS systems, navigational systems and any other mobile communications device that uses short-wave analog or digital radio transmissions between the device and a transmitter.

Hands-free devices will be allowed, and passengers in a vehicle are permitted to use hand-held devices.

Whitefish joined a growing number of Montana cities that have passed some sort of cellphone ordinance.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently declared that texting, emailing or chatting while driving is too dangerous to be allowed anywhere in the United States.

It urged all states to impose total bans except for emergencies.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.