Article submitted by City of Sedona AZ
Sedona AZ (February 8, 2016) – The City of Sedona Engineering Services recently installed signs informing motorists of the City’s ordinance which prohibits the use of a handheld cell phone while driving. The city code was approved by the Sedona City Council and became effective August 22, 2014. Since that time the police department has been issuing verbal warnings to motorists who have been in violation of the new code. The new ordinance states:
“A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a portable communications device to engage in a call unless that device is configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is uses exclusively in that manner while driving. Texting and typing while operating a motor vehicle are banned.”
Exclusive SedonaEye.com photo by Gary Chamberlain
The new city code is similar to those that have been enacted by various cities in Arizona. Despite the dangers that texting and cell phone use while driving presents, Arizona remains one of only four states that has not prohibited texting by all drivers. The purpose of the new code is to increase traffic safety and to encourage healthy and safe driving behavior throughout the community. The ordinance does not apply when a driver is making a call to notify a police or fire department, a hospital or a physician’s office, or an ambulance about an emergency situation. It also does not apply when a person is operating a motor vehicle on private property or when the driver is parked on the roadway in a safe and legal portion of the roadway.
“Our officers will be focusing on those drivers who are driving erratically or operating their vehicle in some other unsafe manner while holding their cell phone in their hand,” said Police Chief Raymond Cota. “Any amount of time that a driver veers their attention away from the roadway is significant. Imagine driving with your eyes closed for nearly the length of an entire football field, that’s how far you would travel just focusing on your phone for 5 seconds while driving at 35 MPH. Our goal is to do what ever is possible to educate people driving in our community that distracted driving is dangerous and that phone call or text can wait,” added Chief Cota.
Exclusive SedonaEye.com photo by Gary Chamberlain
The base fine for violating the ordinance is $100 and increases to $500 if the violator was involved in a motor vehicle crash. The signs informing drivers of the city code are located at:
- Southbound N. SR 89A near Art Barn Road
- Southeast corner of SR 179 and Meadow Lark Lane
- Southeast corner of W. SR 89A and Upper Red Rock Loop Road.
Sedona City Hall is open for business Monday through Thursday from 7:00 in the morning and closed on Fridays. The Municipal Court and Wastewater system maintenance remain on a Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. schedule. Police and maintenance services are not impacted by this schedule.
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GOOD – finally you listened to the people and did something good – thanks on behalf of the entire city and traveling public
Kudos! Awesome!
And it would be sooo helpful if people turning right (especially at the “Y” roundabout) would be courteous and use their turn signals. PLEASE!!
No textin/calling while I drive!!???
Big brother government stay away from my rights….
I’m a proud Tea Party member and want ALL government off my back and the backs of my patriots!!!!!!!!
to Tea Party Willy
Right On Willy Boy!!!
You are so right!! I’m going to head over to Old Sedona and get toasted and hop into my car and drive through town drunk! I just hope that I don’t pass you on the road and swerve into you head on. Who the heck is SPD to tell me that I can’t text and drive or drink and drive.
they make cars that don’t get reception, petition auto makers
There’s an important rally happening near you tomorrow afternoon. Please read on for more details — we hope you can join us.
The FBI just got a judge to order Apple to create a backdoor into the iPhone — putting all of our safety at risk by exposing personal information to hackers, criminals, terrorists, and government spies.
The FBI has been trying this for years, but now they’re exploiting the tragedy in San Bernardino to push their reckless agenda.
Our basic safety and security is at stake. So on tomorrow — Tuesday, February 23rd — we will gather at Apple stores nationwide with one simple message: “Don’t Break Our Phones!”
Click here to find a rally near you, and take a stand to protect encryption.
http://act.demandprogress.org/go/2070?t=1&akid=3994.2452994.2Yba0y
We already held one rally on Wednesday in San Francisco, and on just 5 hours notice dozens of people gathered to say that encryption and security matter — that giving the FBI a backdoor into every iPhone is a terrifying prospect that would make all of us less safe.
TV crews and journalists from major outlets showed up too, and our plan for nationwide protests has already been covered by CNN, USA Today, Fox, and ABC News.
Join the rallies against the FBI’s latest attempt to undermine the security standards that keep us safe. Click here to find a rally in your town!
http://act.demandprogress.org/go/2070?t=2&akid=3994.2452994.2Yba0y
Apple is fighting back against this order, too, so these rallies aren’t protesting Apple — they’re meant to show the government that we won’t let them break our phones and put us all in danger.
This isn’t just about the iPhone, because once the government is able to order companies to unlock their devices and build in backdoors, none of our data will be safe, because courts will be able to issue similar orders for Androids, PCs, and every other device out there.
Ultimately, breaking the security features of our phones puts all of our safety at risk.
Once a backdoor is built, anyone who finds it can use it. That means it won’t only be used by governments or law enforcement. It’s only a matter of time until someone else finds it, enabling malicious hackers, foreign governments, terrorists, thieves and stalkers to use our data against us.
What the FBI is doing endangers all of us. Click here to take a stand for safety and privacy everywhere. If you can’t attend, share the event with friends!
Companies like Apple have a right to offer customers secure devices that protect our most sensitive information.
According to the ACLU, forcing Apple to hack their own customers is unconstitutional and will undermine our privacy and safety without improving national security. [1]
So far, Apple is vowing to fight this unlawful and reckless demand by the government, but we need to show them that they’re not standing alone. Join us at one of these important events to stand up for everyone’s safety.
Click here to find a rally near you, and take a stand to protect encryption. http://act.demandprogress.org/go/2070?t=3&akid=3994.2452994.2Yba0y
If you don’t see an event near you, check back soon — more are being added every hour. Plus, if you mark yourself as attending, we’ll also follow up with a simple tool that will allow you to turn your iPhone, tablet, or laptop into a protest sign you can bring to these events.
See you soon,
Demand Progress