As an elected official, I can clearly understand Allentown Councilman Michael Schlossberg’s desire to implement a ban on cell phone use as a way to save lives. According to the PA Dept of Transportation, in the past seven years there were about 6,900 accident injuries listing cell phone use as contributing causes. Last month, the City of Philadelphia’s ban on the use of handheld cell phones went into effect.
As a citizen of our Commonwealth, I understand the need to ban cell phone use and texting while driving as a way to save lives. I do not see the proposed law as an infringement on my individual rights, but a way to save lives. The life it saves may be yours… or your family’s!
The proposed bill to ban cell phone use and texting while driving has passed the State House and the bill now awaits passage by the State Senate. Now here is the problem. Despite the fact that the bill will save live, it is unlikely the State Senate will pass the proposed ban.
There is a fun part. We live in a Commonwealth where we have about 2200 municipalities that can pass local laws to protect public safety. It is common for municipalities to pass resolutions supporting proposed State laws as a way of forcing the State House and Senate to pass rational legislation. If the State fails to act, many municipalities will act locally as a way of sending a clear message to Harrisburg!
So was Councilman Schlossberg’s proposal a political stunt? Maybe. But in my opinion, the underlying rationale of his proposal was to follow the lead of the City of Philadelphia and implement a law that protects public safety and saves lives!
