A BAN ON ‘HAND
HELD CELL PHONES’ FOR DRIVERS IN ROCKY RIVER
– WAS DISCUSSED BY ROCKY RIVER COUNCIL MEMBERS
– at their
meeting - November 6, 2006 - @ 6:00 P.M. - @ Rocky River City Hall/Rocky River
Council Chambers!
I was there.
I had a
problem with council’s way of presenting the subject matter that was discussed
that night - and the time of their
meeting was troublesome as well. Why?
1. About 50% of
Rocky River’s population may own a cell phone and could be affected by council’s
possible decision to ‘ban hand held cell phones while driving in the city’. I
feel these residents (no matter how you stand on the issue) would have found this council meeting very important to
attend. Yet, there was a problem.
2. ‘Dinner Time’
in Rocky River is at 6:00 P.M. and residents were not going to attend
the meeting at that time. This meeting was poorly timed.
3.
(1) Finally, there was a
lack of ‘specific information and logic’ given by council to support
their possible
banning of ‘hand held cell phones’ for drivers in Rocky River.
(2) Only one resident came forward (other than myself) to speak on his
concern to have 'cell phone rules'. (3) While I was the only other
resident that attended this meeting. I asked council that we already have
reckless driving laws in Rocky River that should cover irresponsible drivers in
our city. (3) I further asked council to get facts from Federal,
State and County Agencies that may show us how many accidents have occurred in
Rocky River by drivers using 'hand held cell phones' while driving in Rocky
River. (4) In closing the Rocky River Police Prosecutor and Rocky
River Police Chief were also present in the audience, at the meeting as well.
Council’s ‘poor effort’ to discuss and float an idea of possibly ‘banning hand
held cell phones’ was rather disappointing to watch. Why?
1.
‘Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle’ is (already on the
books) to stop motorists who drive carelessly in Rocky River. Also, the
enforcement of Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle already protects residents’
from irresponsible drivers.
2.
Also, Rocky River Council Members DID NOT
REFER
to any (1) Federal, (2) State or (3) County Government Agency ‘community
assessment’.
That could have
told us the amount of accidents, drivers have caused – while using ‘hand held
cell phones’ in Rocky River. My question to Rocky River city government’s
elected and appointed officials is, “On whose authority and why are you pursuing
this matter of banning hand held cell phones of drivers in Rocky River?” It is
still not clear to me.
3.
Wouldn’t you think Rocky River council members and this
current administration would have some - rock hard independent evidence? That comes
from (1) Federal, (2) State or (3) County Government Agency Rocky River
‘community assessments’. So as to back up their argument to, possibly ‘ban
hand held cell phones’ for drivers in Rocky River? Yet, they didn’t.
4.
C’mon now, how hard is it to do a little research and come
forward with a legitimate argument for an issue you support? Apparently council
has not done this yet on the ‘cell phone rule’ issue. I wonder if they ever
will.
To
better ‘identify, address and solve’ Rocky River ‘Safety Concerns’ in the
future. I propose forming an Independent Rocky River - Citizen Safety
Committee.
-
Members of a 'citizen
safety committee' will serve on a 'volunteer basis' - to help secure the
health, welfare and safety of Rocky River citizens. How?
-
They will, (1)
Identify safety concerns, (2) Independently gather facts and figures that
support addressing said safety concern, (3) Prepare counter arguments that
may be used against the committee's proposed safety concern, (4) Then make the
argument in favor of alleviating the safety concern, (5) Then follow
through with the remediation of the said stated 'safety concern' in Rocky
River.
-
Why citizens? Safety
should be a number one priority for all citizens. It is for me. Who would
know better about our need for safety, than citizens?
-
My ‘citizen safety
committee’ proposal was an issue in my Mayoral Campaign in 2005. I will
make the ‘citizen safety committee’ proposal an issue in the 2007 Rocky
River Mayoral Campaign as well.
-
My proposal
for an 'independent Rocky River 'citizen safety
committee' is
found on my website at:
RR Health & Safety
Finally, about 50% of Rocky River’s population who may own a cell
phone and I. Are still waiting for Rocky River city council to tell us why
council wants to possibly ‘Ban Hand Held Cell Phones’ for anyone driving in
Rocky River.
Do you think
residents
should be told? I think so.
