In reply to: reply to: want to express my strong opposition to a proposed ordinance restricting the use of cell phones while driving. Chicago Police officers have their hands full fighting gangs, drug dealers and other criminals. This ordinance would distract police from the important job of making our streets safer.
Moreover, the ordinance is unenforceable. The proposal allows for emergency calling but does not specify what exactly constitutes an emergency or how a police officer is supposed to know when someone is making an emergency call.
My members are also concerned that this ordinance could be viewed as a mechanism for harassing minorities, which could undermine the relationship between people and police that is so vital to our crime-fighting programs.
Finally, cell phones have become an important crime-fighting tool. People call police much more frequently if they see something happening while driving. I know that the ordinance permits emergencies, but one result of this proposal is that many people simply will not have phones handy while driving.
A distracted driver is a safety problem, regardless of whether he’s distracted because he is making cell phone calls, adjusting the radio, eating lunch or simply looking away from the road. But Illinois already has reckless-driving laws, and police enforce them.
It is not fair to ask police to solve a problem that people should solve themselves by taking personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of others on the road.
