Beachwood Could Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving

Beachwood City Council will hear a proposed ban on the use of cell phones while driving at tonight's meeting.

The state of Ohio is considering a statewide ban on texting while driving, but Beachwood's law would be more strict, essentially banning drivers from doing anything that requires them to hold the phone in their hands and look at it.

Under the state law, the Columbus Dispatch reports, adult drivers would be banned from texting, while minors would be banned from using cell phones behind the wheel except navigation systems, using voice commands, and making phone calls on hands-free headsets.

But  Chief Mark Sechrist said Beachwood's proposed law would extend these statewide restrictions proposed for minors to everyone else, too.

This would be a primary offense in Beachwood - which means that drivers can be pulled over and cited for using a cell phone.

The proposed state law makes it a secondary offense for adults, so drivers can be cited only if they are pulled over for another reason.

The Ohio law would allow cities to keep their own laws if they are stricter.

City Council will hear the first reading of this ordinance at tonight's meeting, but they will likely not vote on its passing until at least the next council meeting.

The meeting is open to the public and will be at 7 p.m. in