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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> stop, but from that point on to issue a citation or even up to an arrest should it be for something
<br /> else involved you would need a search warrant to prove that somebody was typing on their cell
<br /> phone. I think the only stipulation to this would be GPS. Correct? I mean you won't hold it in your
<br /> hand, it would still have to be hands free, but I know this had come up Mr. Palmer with some of
<br /> the conversations that we've had back and forth, and people have asked me questions about that.
<br /> GPS on your phone,to my understanding is fine,but it can't be in your hand when you're doing it.
<br /> Committemember Gavin Ferlic stated, And the same thing, you can initiate calls as long as it's
<br /> done by voice, or if you start a call when your car is in park. When you're in a safe area and your
<br /> Bluetooth, where you're not using your hand for the phone call that is still considered hands free
<br /> by the ordinance.
<br /> Committeemember Karen White stated, I would like to have further conversation. Chief, when
<br /> you mention enforcement versus punitive,what that looks like?I think that that's important to have
<br /> that level and even amongst the Council members so that our expectations could be shared, but
<br /> most importantly, the public needs to know what we're looking for.
<br /> Mr. Ruszkowski replied,Absolutely. To your point, Ms. Karen, notably, when we're in the school
<br /> zones,when school is starting or after school,you'll notice that there's a huge decrease in speeding.
<br /> That's because they see a police car. So based on call volume, severity of those calls, what the
<br /> requirement is for the officers to respond to those calls,puts us however many officers we can put
<br /> in each of those school zones. On top of that, people are going to hypothetically with their cell
<br /> phone say, Oh my God,there's a cop and put the cell phone down. So how do you catch somebody
<br /> doing that? Again, that's rhetorical as well. Now we have measures that we can take,but again, it's
<br /> based on personnel and circumstances. Meaning, what the call volume entails during those hours.
<br /> Committeemember Regina Williams-Preston stated, We did have a conversation. I think
<br /> interestingly enough, I think the timing is good,but it's also bad. I think with the climate of what's
<br /> happening in the community, we're having a lot of conversations about policing and what that
<br /> looks like. And I have had some calls and people concerned about disproportionality in stops. And
<br /> we were looking for things like traffic data. So,maybe it's time for us to think about how important
<br /> is this? It's very important. I like your questioning about are we looking for voluntary compliance
<br /> or are we looking to just get people? My answer is yeah, voluntary compliance. And it raises
<br /> awareness and it makes people say, okay, let me take care of this. And it makes our community
<br /> safer. So that's really important. And you know, the timing issue, it's good in a way because now
<br /> we've got this on the table, and we can fold this into the conversation that we're having about all
<br /> of these different policies. So, we can hold both values together at the same time, they're not
<br /> conflicting. They're actually complimentary. So, I'm excited about that, actually. So, getting that
<br /> traffic data would be good. You brought up a good point about when you go into one community
<br /> and you know there's an ordinance then you know you don't use your phone. I remember driving
<br /> this weekend and seeing signs, is that something that we can anticipate with this, is that there'll be
<br /> a sign that says this is a hands-free community or something like that? How do people know if
<br /> they're not seeing the signs? It just reminded me that I saw that sign or sign like that in a
<br /> community. So that might be something you're thinking about.
<br /> Committeemember Gavin Ferlic replied, I mean typically, in other communities there's signage
<br /> that makes people aware, I think using the press to also get the word out to folks in the community.
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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