KETCHUM, Idaho -- The central Idaho tourist city of Ketchum has begun enforcing a city ordinance banning drivers from using cellphones. The city council approved the ordinance on April 4, but Ketchum Police didn’t begin enforcing the ban until Wednesday.
“We wanted to make sure we had the signage up and people had the opportunity to educate the public through other media sources like the paper,” said Sgt. Nathan Taylor of the Ketchum Police.
The local ordinance bans using and holding a cellphone, not just texting while driving.
“Just yesterday I pulled over five individuals for using their cell phone while driving, of those five individuals I probably missed twenty,” said Taylor.
For the first year, drivers will be issued warnings if caught violating the ban. However, if a handheld device is found to be the cause of an accident, a citation will be issued and the $100 fine will be imposed.
Ketchum joins Sandpoint as the only two towns in Idaho to ban the use of handheld electronic devices while driving. But the idea is quickly gaining traction across the Wood River Valley.
“Everybody else is following suit,” said Taylor. “The city of Hailey is looking at an ordinance to ban the use of cell phones in their town or jurisdiction and so is the city of Bellevue.”