St. Albert city councillors want the province to get into the driver's seat on legislation that would target drivers who use cellphones while behind the wheel.
Strathcona County became the first municipality in the province this week to ban the use of hand-held cellphones while driving. Starting in September, anyone caught talking on their hand-held cellular while operating a vehicle can be fined $100 on the first offence and $200 for repeat offenders.
The bylaw, passed Tuesday night in a 7-2 vote, has exemptions for emergency situations and hands-free devices. It only applies to county roads, not provincial highways.
No St. Albert ban
St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse said council has a lot on its plate and doesn't really have the time to pursue its own bylaw targeting cellphones.
"We have so many other things on the go that this one just hasn't hit our interest level."
Crouse said the issue would be better handled at the provincial level. He would rather wait to see what MLAs do before even considering a local bylaw.
Premier Ed Stelmach told reporters on Monday the Strathcona ban intrigued him and the province would likely introduce legislation later this year that would deal with all a broader range of driver distractions.
Coun. Gareth Jones said he is looking forward to a province-wide ban.
"The element of risk is too high when somebody is on their cellphone," he said. "If it is province-wide, obviously it is a lot easier to monitor and control."
Coun. Len Bracko hopes the government comes to the fore and brings in province-wide legislation, because having municipalities approach these bylaws on their own is a waste of resources.
"The bottom line is that it is time the province stepped up to the plate to meet these needs," he said. "Municipalities are wasting money on bylaws — it should be a provincial law."
Crouse hopes the province takes the lead, but remembers it took a lot of action from municipalities before they brought in indoor smoking bans.
"It took several municipalities to deal with smoking before the province really got on board, but I think it will be the beginning of something in the province, there is no doubt in my mind."
Several councillors admitted they had been guilty of chatting on a cellphone will driving, yet support a provincial ban. Lorie Garritty said he supports a law, but agrees it is the province's responsibility.
"I certainly support the idea of not being distracted while you're driving, but I don't think we want to get going on it by ourselves."
Coun. James Burrows is also looking forward to a provincial ban. He said the dangers are well documented and it's time for province-wide consistency.
"The one statement that has always resonated with me is that when you are driving and you are not on a hands free cellphone your attention span is as if you are impaired."
