BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Battle Creek’s distracted driving law goes into effect today.
This means within the city it is against the law to use a hand-held cell phone while driving for any reason, including scrolling, typing, or talking.
But Commissioner Kaytee Faris says hands-free devices are still okay.
Eventually, about 30 signs will be posted around Battle Creek that read, “local law, hands-free cell phone use only while driving.”
Police Chief Jim Blocker says he doesn’t expect to issue an abundance of tickets in the first year, but use it more as an educational opportunity to show that distracted driving is not safe driving.
More information on the local law can be found here.
In addition, there is an effort underway to apply the ban statewide.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer talked about it during her State of the State address and now Birmingham Democrat Mari Manoogian has introduced a bill that would ban all but hands-free and voice operated systems in vehicles.
It would include an exemption if you are dialing 911 for a legitimate reason.
Manoogian says every year an increasing number of crashes are being blamed on distracted driving, in many cases its phone related, and too often the results are tragic.
(copy written by Jeana Gondek and John McNeill)
