Texting While Driving Ordinance in Odessa Dies for Lack of a Second
By: Jamie Kuras
Updated: October 26, 2011
ODESSA -- Despite support for the ordinance, no city council member would second the motion to consider it. Jamie Kuras reports.
Many people showed up for the Odessa City Council meeting to voice their opinion of a texting while driving ban. Including Kelsey Foster, whose wrecked car sits in front of Permian High School.
"This is very personal for me," said Foster. "I was one of the survivors from texting and driving. There's not many of them. But I am."
But even with all the support for the ordinance, no city council member would second the motion to consider it.
"I would like to compliment Councilman Goates because he had the political will to make the motion," said former City Councilman Royce Bodiford. "I would like to chastise the other council members because they did not have the political will to second the motion or bring it to a vote."
Stunned, the crowd of supporters angrily left the council meeting. While only a select handful supported the councils decision.
"Everybody knows it's stupid to text and drive," said Caleb Leveret. "I just don't think it's necessary to be nit picking and having our city cops enforcing such an ordinance that's so hard to enforce."
And enforcement seemed to be the main issue for the council not to second the motion.
"What happens whenever we get a ticket for when the police officer says we are texting and we say we're not," said Leverett. "Are we willing to have our smartphones with all of our private information confiscated as evidence? I'm just not willing to do that."
This issue might not be completely dead in the water. Former Councilman Bodiford said he is going to get the correct documentation to start a petition from people in the city, and hopefully get this back on the docket for at least a vote from all the council members.
Many people showed up for the Odessa City Council meeting to voice their opinion of a texting while driving ban. Including Kelsey Foster, whose wrecked car sits in front of Permian High School.
"This is very personal for me," said Foster. "I was one of the survivors from texting and driving. There's not many of them. But I am."
But even with all the support for the ordinance, no city council member would second the motion to consider it.
"I would like to compliment Councilman Goates because he had the political will to make the motion," said former City Councilman Royce Bodiford. "I would like to chastise the other council members because they did not have the political will to second the motion or bring it to a vote."
Stunned, the crowd of supporters angrily left the council meeting. While only a select handful supported the councils decision.
"Everybody knows it's stupid to text and drive," said Caleb Leveret. "I just don't think it's necessary to be nit picking and having our city cops enforcing such an ordinance that's so hard to enforce."
And enforcement seemed to be the main issue for the council not to second the motion.
"What happens whenever we get a ticket for when the police officer says we are texting and we say we're not," said Leverett. "Are we willing to have our smartphones with all of our private information confiscated as evidence? I'm just not willing to do that."
This issue might not be completely dead in the water. Former Councilman Bodiford said he is going to get the correct documentation to start a petition from people in the city, and hopefully get this back on the docket for at least a vote from all the council members.
