Great Falls banned hand-held cell phones for motorists and cyclists, hoping to make navigating the streets of this central Montana town a bit safer from distracted drivers.
The Great Falls Tribune reported commissioners favoring the ban sought to underscore expectations that drivers pay attention to the road, not what’s on their mobile telephone.
Tuesday night’s 4-1 vote came after testimony from a divided audience, which included opponents who fear Great Falls is infringing on civil liberties.
The one commissioner who opposed the measure, Mary Jolley, said she could have gone for a texting ban, but felt like most drivers in Great Falls were fully capable of operating a cell phone and a motor vehicle simultaneously.
The provision doesn’t apply to hands-free and voice-activated devices.
And passengers can still gab away.
Topics Personal Auto
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