Las Cruces City Hall (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Las Cruces became today the sixth city in New Mexico to restrict the use of cell phones while driving.
The city council, on a unanimous vote, set steep penalties – a fine of up to $500 and/or 90 days in jail – for violating the new ordinance, which takes effect on Feb. 5.
The ordinance prohibits:
• sending or receiving calls.
• sending or reading text messages.
• reading, selecting or entering a number or name.
• sending or receiving e-mails.
Exceptions include, according to a news release from the city, communication with “certain offices or departments in an emergency,” use by law enforcement and other emergency personnel when performing official duties during an emergency, and the exception that applies to most of us – hands-free use.
So you can still use your phone while driving after Feb. 5, as long as you’re using a hands-free device.
Albuquerque, Española, Gallup, Santa Fe and Taos already restrict the use of cell phones while driving, but there are no statewide restrictions.