A new city ordinance that prohibits holding or using a cell phone or hand-held communication device in a school or construction zone earned unanimous approval from Tulsa City Council during its Dec. 10 meeting.
Key details of the ordinance, which was adopted to bring the city into compliance with a new state law, include:
- Texting or holding a cell phone while operating a vehicle in a school or construction zone is prohibited, with limited exceptions for hands-free use and emergencies.
- There is a maximum fine of $100 for violations, including fees and assessments.
- The ordinance specifies that officers cannot search, confiscate or download data from a driver’s phone to check compliance unless they have probable cause, a valid search warrant or other legal authorization.
The ordinance, which was written by Councilor Lori Decter Wright, was passed with an emergency clause and will be implemented after it is signed by Mayor Monroe Nichols.
The next regular council meeting is set for Jan. 14.
This was informed by Heidi Goodnough’s Documenter notes from the Tulsa City Council meeting on Dec. 10. If you’re interested in becoming a Documenter, visit us at documenters.org.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
