Glendale is the latest city in the Phoenix area to ban the use of handheld cellphones while driving.

The Glendale City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to enact the ban.

The same evening, a Salt River tribal police officer was fatally struck by a distracted driver during a traffic stop on Loop 101 near Scottsdale. The driver said he was texting and driving at the time of the crash, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The Glendale ordinance prohibits talking on a cellphone, sending a text message or otherwise using a handheld communications device while driving in the city, unless the device is in hands-free mode.

It goes into effect Feb. 7. There will be an education and warning period of about six months before officers begin strict enforcement, Glendale Police Chief Rick St. John said.

The fine is $250 on first offense.

The ordinance is modeled off a similar rule in Surprise, which took effect in September.

Glendale is one of many cities in the Valley and the state to enact this type of ordinance in response to the Arizona Legislature’s failure over the last several years to enact a statewide ban. Scottsdale has not passed a similar ordinance.

St. John told the Glendale council Tuesday that he was glad to see many cities in the West Valley enacting the bans. Along with Surprise, El Mirage recently enacted a ban.

This creates consistency across the region, St. John said, and creates safer roads.

Councilwoman Joyce Clark, who brought the idea before the council, said the ban was long overdue.

Lack of state ban

The Legislature has considered a statewide ban on texting and driving for more than a decade.

This past summer, a state law went into effect prohibiting teen drivers from using their cellphones while holding their learner’s permit and during the first six months of their provisional license.

Arizona is one of just three states — Missouri and Montana are the others — in which texting and driving remain legal for all or some drivers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Sixteen states have a blanket ban on handheld-cellphone use while driving.

A new legislative session begins on Monday. No bills have been prefiled on the topic.

A cellphone and a mangled bicycle

Glendale intends to put signs up to let drivers know about the new ban, St. John said.

Until about June, he said, police will focus on educating drivers who they pull over for the offense. Still, he said, if someone is using their phone and is in a crash, a citation could still be issued.

Just before the vote, Brendan Lyons, executive director of non-profit organization Look! Save a Life, brought his mangled bicycle to the front of the council chambers and asked the council to approve the ban.

Lyons was seriously injured when a car hit him when he was riding on the bicycle in October 2013. The driver had just looked down at his phone for a second, he said.

Since, he's advocated for a statewide law and local ordinances banning driver cellphone use.

Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff told Lyons that she was glad that he was OK.

"There are a lot of people who don't go home from those accidents," she said.

Tolmachoff said she had brought up the idea of a similar ban a few years ago, and she was glad to see it come back up again.

What's the rule in your city?

The following Valley cities have ordinances related to using a cellphone while driving:

El Mirage – prohibits handheld-cellphone use while driving

Fountain Hills – prohibits texting while driving

Glendale – prohibits handheld-cellphone use while driving (takes effect Feb. 7)

Phoenix – prohibits texting while driving

Surprise – prohibits handheld-cellphone use while driving

Tempe – prohibits talking on the phone or texting, but only if police can prove the drivers pose a risk to themselves or others, and it's a secondary offense

Outside of the Valley, Arizona cities that prohibit handheld-cellphone use while driving include: Bisbee, Clifton, Chino Valley, Flagstaff (texting ban only), Kingman, Oro Valley, Prescott, San Luis, Sedona, Tucson and Yuma.

Coconino, Pima and Yavapai counties also prohibit handheld cellphone use while driving.

Reach reporter Jen Fifield at 602-444-8763 or jen.fifield@azcentral.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenAFifield.

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