Huntsville Police officers have written 190 tickets and issued 112 in the first year of enforcement of the city’s Hands-Free driving ordinance.

“This isn’t about the number of citations written, it’s about saving lives,” Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles said. “Holding a phone for even a few seconds can be the difference between arriving safely and not arriving at all.”

The ordinance officially went into effect on Jan. 1 of last year. But the Huntsville Police Department did not begin enforcing it until July of last year. Enforcement began after a six-month education period.

“We have made progress, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Giles said during an update on the ordinance at City Hall. “Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes for accidents across this country. It’s not just a bad habit, it’s a dangerous one, one that can have devastating and even fatal consequences.”

Here is what you can’t do

Under the ordinance, motorists can be ticketed for:

• Using a wireless telecommunications device to write, send or engage through texting.
• Watching, recording or capturing photos or videos.
• Physically holding or supporting devices with any part of the body.

Devices that can’t be used

A wireless telecommunications device that can’t be used under the ordinance include:

• Smart phones
• Cell phones
• Electronic readers or tablets
• Laptops or netbooks
• GPS devices

District 2 Council Member David Little, who introduced the ordinance after his family was once involved in a serious accident caused by a distracted driver, called the law a necessary step toward safer streets.

“That kind of pain and hardship is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” Little said. “That’s why I brought this ordinance forward, and it’s why I’ll keep advocating for responsible, focused driving. It’s about changing behavior, not punishing it.”

Little said the accident his family was involved in was “100% preventable.”

Under the ordinance, motorists may be fined $50 for a first conviction, $100 for a second conviction and $150 for a third conviction.

The Huntsville hands-free ordinance is similar to a state law that went into the enforcement phase the same month. The state law is a secondary violation, but points can be added on a driver’s license that leads to suspension. Also state law explicitly specifies that drivers can use speakerphones, earpieces, wireless headsets and Bluetooth to talk on the phone. The Huntsville ordinance does not specify those exceptions.

“Two years ago, they passed what I would call a very watered-down version of what we wanted,” said Little, who said he advocated for a stronger law on the state level. “Essentially what the city already had was a no-texting ordinance that was very hard to enforce. It was a secondary offence, which meant you had to be speeding, swerving and not using a turn signal or something else to get pulled over and to then be cited for using your phone. That’s the way the state is now. It’s completely ineffective in my opinion.”

Huntsville’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. In June, Allstate Insurance ranked Huntsville the 12th safest driving city in the country, which Little called “a great accolade.”

“But that doesn’t mean there isn’t progress to be made,” the councilman said.

As enforcement of the ordinance enters its second year, city leaders said the focus will remain on education, accountability and helping drivers make hands-free habits second nature.

“Our efforts are not going to stop,” Police Sgt. Christopher Jackson said. “We will continue to educate drivers, reinforcing the importance of staying focused behind the wheel.”

Certain individuals are exempt from the ordinance, including emergency services professionals, those dialing or texting 911 to report an emergency or seek help, individuals who are using wireless telecommunication devices while legally parked and physicians responding to an emergency medical situation.