|
®CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> Committee Chair Jo M. Broden replied, Okay. It's the same. And then with regard to the Section
<br /> 21.34, the positive find moneys. In that section two (2), in terms of reporting, perhaps consider
<br /> adding like the number of citations. But then also, in addition to the City Clerk, I would actually
<br /> encourage circling in the Council President and or the Health and Public Safety Chair and Vice
<br /> Chair. That way we have a sense of advocacy on this over time.
<br /> Committeemember Gavin Ferlic stated,For sure.And,just a comment that I had is monthly maybe
<br /> a little bit excessive on that. Quarterly I think would be fine. I don't know how the rest of the
<br /> Council feels, but I feel like a quarterly update would be good.
<br /> Committee Chair Jo M. Broden replied, And then my last thing is, do we know, or is there data
<br /> relative to the difference between talking or sort of the hands free element of this that we're trying
<br /> to get at versus just the general distraction of the other non-hands free?
<br /> Committeemember Gavin Ferlic replied, Yeah, it's a really good question. So distracted driving,
<br /> there is a lot of data out there that shows distracted driving leads to an increase in crashes. Whether
<br /> or not there's, I shouldn't say collecting data,but there's not consensus data on when the ordinance
<br /> is passed, it restricts using your hands with a cell phone that then results in a decrease in crashes.
<br /> However, there's no control group. We're not stopping technology and capping the number of cell
<br /> phones at the same time. So, I would argue that even crashes remain the exact same. You still
<br /> introduced say over the past five (5) years, probably two (2) to three (3) times the number of cell
<br /> phones or devices that people are using.
<br /> Committeemember Ferlic continued, So, it's really difficult because there's no control group to
<br /> study or there's no way to stop time, have everybody use their existing technology for three (3)
<br /> years and nobody gets a cell phone that didn't have a cell phone to then study. Would there be a
<br /> reduction in crashes? I would argue that looking at the data, you would, again, if you didn't have
<br /> hands free ordinances in those places,you would see a spike as opposed to just flat line in standard
<br /> quota in crashes.
<br /> Committee Chair Jo M. Broden replied, But, wouldn't insurance reports reflect some of the data in
<br /> terms of the culprit? Whether or not it was hands-free or whether or not it was Bluetooth?
<br /> Committemember Gavin Ferlic replied, If the people are honest. Yeah.
<br /> Committee Chair Jo M. Broden asked, And then the likelihood of getting a warrant that would
<br /> actually get the enforcement capacity.
<br /> Committemember Gavin Ferlic replied, So again,not necessary.When you're looking at somebody
<br /> texting, if they're holding the phone in their hand and they say, I was just making a call, a warrant's
<br /> not necessary because by holding the phone in their hand, that is now a violation of driving. That's
<br /> the difficult thing to enforce with the State law regarding texting, is because if you're texting on
<br /> your phone and somebody pulls you over, you should just say, I'm sorry.
<br /> Mr. Ruszkowski stated, Just two (2) perspectives. Number one (1), when I make a traffic stop,
<br /> which is much to, a lot of people ask and do whatever, but I do make traffic stops, and my intent
<br /> on the traffic stop is to save a life. Whether it's that driver, somebody else, or both of them, or
<br /> more.That is the only intent,and I would hope to God that all officers feel the same way. However,
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend.Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
<br /> 6
<br />
|