Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1065_Part 15, Ch 5, Section 15-558_Texting & DrivinggtKTUCQ °kcnKO�^P TULSA COUNTY CLERK - PAT KEY Doe # 2015112701 Page(s): 2 12/21/2015 03:59:45 PM Receipt N 15 -17444 Fee: $ 15.00 CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA ORDINANCE 1065 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PART 15, TRAFFIC & VEHICLES, CHAPTER 5, DRIVING, OVERTAKING & PASSING, SECTION 15 -558, TEXTING WHILE DRIVING, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO MANUALLY COMPOSE, SEND OR READ AN ELECTRONIC TEXT MESSAGE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. THIS ORDINANCE ENACTS AND CODIFIES PART 15, CHAPTER 5, SECTION 15 -558, OFTHE CITY OF OWASSO CODE OF ORDINANCES. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO -WIT: SECTION ONE (1): Part Fifteen, Traffic & Vehicles, Chapter Five, Driving, Overtaking & Passing, Section 15 -558, Texting While Driving, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma, shall be adopted as follows: SECTION 15 -558 TEXTING WHILE DRIVING A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway while using a hand -held electronic communication device to manually compose, send or read an electronic text message while the motor vehicle is in motion. B. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed that allowed by Oklahoma State Statutes. C. The provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall not apply if the person is using the cellular telephone or electronic communication device for the sole purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an imminent emergency situation: 1. An emergency response operator; 2. A hospital, physician's office or health clinic; 3. A provider of ambulance services; 4. A provider of firefighting services; or 5. A law enforcement agency. D. For the purpose of this section: "Cellular telephone" means an analog or digital wireless telephone authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to operate in the frequency bandwidth reserved for cellular telephones; 2. "Compose ", "send" or "read" with respect to a text message means the manual entry, sending or retrieval of a text message to communicate with any person or device; 3. "Electronic communication device" means an electronic device that permits the user to manually transmit a communication of written text by means other than through an oral transferor wire communication. This term does not include a device that is physically or electronically integrated into a motor vehicle or a voice - operated global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to a motor vehicle, or a hands -free device that allows the user to write, send or read a text message without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function; and 4. 'Text message" includes a text -based message, instant message, electronic message, photo, video or electronic mail. SECTION TWO (2): REPEALER All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict only. SECTION THREE (3): SEVERABILITY If any part or parts of this ordinance are deemed unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective, the remaining portion shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION FOUR (4): DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE The provisions of this ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from the date of final passage as provided by state law. SECTION FIVE (5): CODIFICATION This ordinance shall be codified in Part 15, Chapter 5, Section 15 -558. PASSED by the City Council of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma on the 15th day of December, 2015. *oabe0yiMacryor ATTEST: G\"l OF Otis Sherry Bisho, City Cle OFFICIAL 1 O LAL (SEAL) `ate®` a�'LAHOMP' APPROVED as to form and legality this i(0-t-` day of O p C. , 2015. Juli ombardi, City Attorney • CITY OF OWASSO /LEGALS ATTN: MARSHA HENSLEY PO BOX 180 OWASSO, OK 74055 BmRen A,mn L•Jx�' Cower w R 1, A an L)v,sso N 0 er li b b one s„�a svx x. L a w� o�ti o„r,ai T, B FL qxl rvyws OKLAHOMA WEEKLY GROUP P0. BOX 26945 RICHMOND, VA 73261 -6472 Account Number 1015023 Date December 30, 2015 Date Category _ Description Ad Size Total Cost 12130/2015 Legal Notices ORDINANCE 1065 2 x 100.00 CL 128.00 14)18] Published In the Owasso Reporter, Owosso, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, December 30, 2015. CITY OF OWASSO,( ORDINANCE 1065 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PART 15, TRAFFIC & VEHICLES, CHAPTER 5, DRIVING, OVERTAKING & PASSING, SECTION I5 -5511, TEXTING WHILE DRIW ING, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO MANUALLY COMPOSE, SEND OR READ AN ELEC- TRONIC TEXT MESSAGE WHILE OPERATING A MO. TOR VEHICLE. THIS ORDINANCE ENACTS AND CODIFIES PART 15, CHAPTER 5, SECTION 155511, OF THE CITY OF OWAS- SO CODE OF ORDINANCES. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, THAT, TO -WIT: SECTION ONE (1): Part Fifteen, Traffic & Vehicles, Chapter Five, Driving, Overtaking & Passing, Section 15SSE, Texting While Driving, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Owasso, Oklahoma, shall be adopted as follows: SECTION 155511 A. It shall be unlawful for any Person to operate o motor vehicle an any street or highway while using a hand- held electronic communication device to manually com- pose, send or read an electronic text message while the motor vehicle is in motion. B. Any person who violates the Provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall, upon conviction, be Punished by a fine riot to exceed that allowed by Oklahoma State Statutes. C. The provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall not apply If the person is using the cellular telephone or electronic communication device for the sole Purpose of communicating with any of the following regarding an Imminent emergency situation: 1. An emergency response operator; 2. A hospital, physician's office or health clinic; 3. A Provider of ambulance services; 4. A provider of firefighting services; or S. A law enforcement agency. D. For the Purpose of this section: 1. 'Cellular telephone' means an analog or digital wireless telephone authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to operate in the fr"uency bandwidth reserved for cellular tele- phones; 2 'Compose', 'send' or 'read' with respect to a text message means the manual entry, sending or retrlevol of a text message to communicate with any person or device; 3. 'Electronic communication device' means an electronic device that permits the user to man- ually transmit a communication of written text by means other than through an oral transfer or wire communication. This term does not Include a device that is physically or electronically into grated Into a motor vehicle or a voice-operated global positioning or navigation system that is af- fixed to a motor vehicle, or a hands -free device that allows the user to write, send or read a text message without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or func- tion; and 4. 'Text message` includes a text -based message, Instant message, electronic message, photo, video or electronic mall. SECTION TWO (2): REPEALER All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, in conflict with this or- dinance are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict only. SECTION THREE (3): SEVERABILITY If any Part or Parts of this ordinance are deemed unconstnu. tonal, invalid or Ineffective, the remaining portion shall not be affected but shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION FOUR (4): DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE The Provisions of this ordinance shall become effective thirty ON days from the date at final passage as Provided by state law. SECTION FIVE (5): CODIFICATION This ordinance shall be codified In Part 15, Chapter 5, Section 15 -558. PASSED AND APPROVED this 15th day of December, MIS. IV Jeri Moberly, Mayor ATTEST: /s1 Sherry Bishop, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: /s? Julie Lombardi, City Attorney Proof of Publication I, of lawful age, being duly sworn, am a legal representative of Tulsa Business and Legal News of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a Daily newspaper of general circulation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a newspaper qualified to publish legal notices, advertisements and publications as provided in Section 106 or Title 25, Oklahoma Statutes 1971 and 1982 as amended, and thereafter, and complies with all other requirements of the laws of Oklahoma with reference to legal publications. That said notice, a true copy of which is attached hereto was published in the regular edition of said newspaper during the period and time of 12/30/2015 Newspaper reference: 0000197187 l lladl_ YT Legal Representaf e Sworn to and subscribed before me this date: My commission expires: Notary 9-1L) L) —/� 1 THIS IS NOT A BILL. PLEASE PAY FROM INVOICE. THANK YOU The Ci ty!I"ut Limits. TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Owasso Julie Trout Lombardi City Attorney and General Counsel APPROVED By COUNCIL DEC 15 2015 Ordinances and Amendments Regulating Texting While Driving, Vapor Products and Child Passenger Restraint System Requirements. December 11, 2015 BACKGROUND: Changes in State law have prompted consideration of one new ordinance prohibiting texting and driving, and amendments to current sections in the Owasso Code or Ordinances 1) prohibiting minors from obtaining and using tobacco products, and, 2) imposing requirements for child passenger restraint systems. Texting While Driving The State enacted legislation prohibiting texting while driving which became effective on November 1, 2015. It is necessary for the City of Owasso to adopt its own municipal ordinance so that citations for this offense may be prosecuted in the City's municipal court. Ordinance No. 1065, which creates section 15 -558 titled " Texting While Driving," mirrors the statute adopted by the State. This ordinance provides that it shall be unlawful for any person operating a motor vehicle to use a hand -held communication device to manually compose, send or read an electronic text message while the vehicle is in motion. The ordinance further provides that violations of the ordinance may be punished with a fine not to exceed that allowed by state law (currently set at $100). The ordinance additionally contains a list of exceptions outlining scenarios wherein the prohibition against texting and driving would not apply. These include communication in emergency situations with emergency response operators, hospitals and other medical providers, ambulance services, firefighting services and law enforcement. Amendments to Ordinances Prohibiting Furnishing Tobacco Products to Minors and Receiot of Tobacco Products by a Minor The Owasso City Council approved ordinances several years ago prohibiting the furnishing and receipt of tobacco products to and by minors. Those ordinances imposed penalties upon persons who sell or otherwise provide tobacco products to minors, and upon minors who purchase, accept or possess tobacco products. These ordinances substantially mirrored corollary state laws authorizing municipalities to enact ordinances of this type. In 2014, the Legislature amended State law to prohibit vapor products in addition to tobacco products. Consequently, it is advisable for the City to consider amending its own ordinances to include vapor products as well. Ordinance No. 1066 again mirrors the amendments made to State law in this regard. The punishment for providing vapor products to minors is a graduated schedule of increasing fines with eventual potential loss of a business's sales tax permit. Failure to remit payment of an imposed fine may also result in suspension or non - issuance of the offender's driver's license. Amendments to Child Passenger Restraint System Requirements Section 15 -308 of the Owasso Code of Ordinances mirrors State law in setting forth requirements for child passenger restraint systems. Effective November 1, 2015, State law was amended to contain additional requirements for children eight (8) years of age and younger or who are four (4) feet nine (9) inches in height or shorter. Based upon the significant amendments to State law, it is advisable for the City of Owasso to adopt identical amendments as proposed in Ordinance No. 1067 RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Ordinances 1065, 1066 and 1067. ATTACHMENTS: Ordinance 1065 prohibiting texting while driving Ordinance 1066 amending sections relating to tobacco and minors to include vapor products Ordinance 1067 amending child passenger restraint system requirements