Published: Monday, November 01, 2010, 9:20 PM
DAPHNE — Thanks to the efforts of one teenager, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday night to make texting while driving a crime punishable by a $100 fine.
Other Alabama municipalities have already passed similar bans, including Birmingham. Daphne apparently is the first city in the Mobile Bay area to do so, said Council President Cathy Barnette.
The Daphne resident behind the measure, interestingly, isn’t old enough to vote — or drive, for that matter.
"I wanted to protect teens and adults. It’s just as dangerous as driving drunk, and that’s a very scary thought," said Jasmine Lee, a 15-year-old Bayside Academy student who became Alabama Junior Teen Queen in July.
In August, Lee gave a speech before the city’s Public Works Committee asking that the city pass a "no texting" ordinance. The committee soon had an ordinance drafted.
Lee attended Monday’s council meeting and again talked about the dangers of texting while driving.
"There have been deaths in Spanish Fort, Fairhope and Daphne from texting behind the wheel," Lee said. "I know some of my friends text and drive, and I’ve even been in the car while this was happening. I’ve asked them to please stop."
Lee said she would like to see a statewide law passed.
"I will start in my city and move on from here," she said.
At the state level, a bill that would have banned all Alabama drivers from typing or sending text messages while driving died in committee last year.
In July, Birmingham banned texting while driving.
Daphne police officers will not have the power to stop drivers only because they suspect they are texting while driving, according to the ordinance.
A first offense carries a fine of $100 or 10 days in jail. A second offense carries a $200 fine or 30 days in jail. A third or subsequent conviction is punishable by a $500 fine or three months in jail.
Daphne council members said the issue had inspired little opposition.
"I had one phone call on this issue, and the person tried to tell me that he could drive safely while texting," Councilman John Lake said. "I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry."
The ordinance that passed Monday prohibits driving while "using a wireless communication device to send, receive, download or view any electronic or digital content ... including electronic mail, instant messaging or text messaging."
Emergency personnel are exempt.
"It may be hard to enforce, but I think we need this law," Lee said.
