The metropolis of Chicago is under fire from its citizens for cell phone tickets. The offenders that were caught are claiming that the city didn’t enact the law properly. In short, these people want to get off on a technicality.
I cry foul. The technicality seems to be a lack of street signs warning drivers not to talk (or text?) on their cell phones. I suppose common sense and a desire for safety isn’t enough to make offenders buy a hands free kit for their cell phone. It seems that $20 – $50 dollars is just to great an expense in comparison to a $75 ticket or an accident in their minds.
The law firm spearheading the class action suit against the city specializes in police misconduct cases. This case is one in a long line of lawsuits costing the taxpayers of Chicago money – over 100 lawsuits so far. The law firm is suing to get the tickets summarily dismissed and all fines and fees (totaling more than $2 Million USD over two years) refunded.
Not only does the law suite claim the law was improperly enacted, it goes so far as to claim the city manufactured the offenses to pad the city budget. Cell phones are a much needed technology, but they are a hazard on the road. There has been enough public education about this that drivers should know better, but they continue to put themselves and others at risk. I think the tickets should stand.
