Elsmere first in DE to enforce cell phone ordinance

Elsmere will be the first municipality in the First State to start ticketing people for using a cell phone while driving.

Elsmere will be the first municipality in the First State to start ticketing people for using a cell phone while driving.

The ordinace, which goes into effect Sunday, November 1,  bans talking or texting on a cell phone while driving or riding a bicycle unless you’re using a hands-free device.

“We’re seeing a lot of motorists that are just inattentive while driving, even in your daily life when not working in a police department you can see a lot of people are using the phone or texting while driving which is causing them to make assertive movements or even cause accidents,” Lt. Christopher Workman, commanding officer for the Elsmere Police Department, said.

Police officers are allowing time for drivers to adjust.  From November 1 to December 31, they’ll issue warnings.  After that, talking and driving without being “hands-free” will cost you $50.

Signs warning drivers of the ordinance as they enter the town are being made now and will be installed soon.  Lt. Workman tells us since this is a new ordinance in Delaware, DelDOT didn’t have cell phone signage in stock, so they had to be made from scratch.

The city of Wilmington has passed a similar ordinance, which takes effect in January.