MARSHFIELD, WI (WTAQ) – A central Wisconsin city will consider suspending its seven-year-old ban on using hand-held cell phones while driving.
That’s after attorneys for the state DOT said Waupaca County exceeded its authority in approving a county-wide ban in 2008 — soon after Marshfield aldermen approved theirs.
Now, Marshfield City Administrator Steve Barg says the city attorney is looking into the matter — and the Common Council will discuss the issue Tuesday night. Barg tells Gannett Central Wisconsin Media that his police chief received an e-mail from the DOT, suggesting that its cell ban goes against state authority.
The DOT’s Kristen McHugh said the issue involves a specific request by Waupaca County to put up signs about its cell phone driving ban along state highways. Gannett said the county asked the DOT why it couldn’t post those signs, and the agency responded that the county’s ordinance “clearly prohibits” phone usage that’s allowed under state law.
Barg told Gannett that local streets are legally treated the same as state highways — and communities could keep their bans if lawmakers could narrow the definition of highways.
Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Zach Vruwink said he was not aware of any state concerns involving a similar ban in his city. But he said wouldn’t be completely surprised, given what he calls “the recent trends in state overreach.”
Wausau, Stevens Point, and Rhinelander also have similar bans on hand-held cell phone use while driving.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)