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Hands-Free ordinance grace period is over in Pima County

Posted at 3:49 PM, Aug 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-05 01:11:33-04

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has lifted the 60 day grace period for the hands-free ordinance.

Deputies will now be issuing tickets. Drivers are not allowed to be on their phone while driving, even when stopped at a stop sign or stop light.

"When we are behind people you start to see is the same thing impaired drivers do who are impaired by alcohol or drugs is you start to see weaving, bouncing from lane to lane,  they can't stay in their own lane. They will straddle the lane dividers, they make poor decisions when they are driving, they are speeding, they are driving really slow," said Deputy Ryan Roher with the Pima County Sheriff's Department. 

According to a press release from PCSD:

The ordinance (10.34.020) states: “A person may not use a handheld electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a street or highway unless that device is specifically designed or configured to allow hands-free use and is used in that manner.” Use of a twoway radio will not be a violation of this ordinance. Use of a handheld electronic device in the event of an emergency will also be exempt. It is a civil traffic offense to violate this ordinance.

 

 

During the grace period, deputies issued 4 citations, 361 written warnings, and 386 verbal warnings regarding this ordinance.

Deputies advise drivers to use Bluetooth or a phone mount.