By DREYMA BERONJA

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Local law enforcement agencies are weighing in the cell phone ban legislation recently signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The governor signed three bills last week. The laws, which will be enacted officially on June 30, are expected to reduce distracted driving by outlawing the use of handheld cell phones.

Marquette Police Chief Ryan Grim said in an email that the new ban on cell phone use is a good step toward eliminating distracted driving, but it won’t change how officers conduct traffic enforcement.

“With the texting ban implementation years ago, our officers are already used to watching for that,” Grim said. “Seeing a driver talking on their phone will be an easier violation to observe than just texting.”

Since the texting ban, Grim said on average five citations are written per year, however many warnings were given.

“It’s a violation that is not easily enforced but I believe most people voluntarily comply in order to be responsible and safe drivers,” Grim said.

In a press release, Whitmer said she was proud to sign the bill.

“Too many Michiganders have lost loved ones to distracted driving, and everyone should be safe on their way to school, home, or work,” Whitmer said. “We developed our last Strategic Highway Safety Plan in 2019 and already we have seen a reduction in the number of fatalities caused by distracted driving. These bills are another step toward reducing that number even further. Our goal is to see zero traffic deaths by 2050 and I know that by working together we can get it done.”

A similar ban in Ohio seems to have had an impact on distracted driving.

The state implemented a hands-free law in April. Since then, Ohio has seen a 9% drop in distracted driving in just one month, preventing over 500 crashes.

According to an Associated Press article by Joey Cappelletti, penalties for distracted driving in Michigan will be increased.

A first offense could cost drivers $100 and 16 hours of community service and then $250 for each subsequent offense and 24 hours of community service.

“If a driver accumulates three or more violations within three years, a court could require that a driving improvement course be taken,” Cappelletti wrote.

Michigan State Police Public Information Officer Mark Giannunzio joined Grim, who said an exact number of accidents related to texting and driving has not been tallied because of the way the state reports them. Those crashes are reported under distracted driving.

Giannunzio said the new laws may be easier to enforce.

“Now when a trooper might be a long ways away but they see that personal phone in their hand, they don’t have to say they don’t have to prove that they were texting. It’s a hands-free law; the phone cannot be in your hand (and) you cannot be using that cell phone while you’re driving,” Giannunzio said. “So, it’s going to be a lot easier for the enforcement part of this and it will be a lot safer obviously for the general public because in order to use your phone you have to be on a hands-free type device.”

While there is no exact number related to how many crashes have occurred from texting and driving, Giannunzio said distracted driving is the cause of many accidents.

“Anything that we can do to get people’s eyes and attention focused on the road, the less crashes I think we’re going to have in the long run,” Giannunzio said.

The new law will take effect at the end of the month. However, Grim said it will take some time getting used to.

“We should all make the conscious effort to eliminate distractions while driving, including putting the phones down and waiting until we reach our destinations before texting,” Grim said.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 548. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.net.