Memorandum

DATE March 24,2017

CITY OF DALLAS

TO Honorable Members of the Public Safety Committee:Adam Medrano (Chair), B. Adam McGough (Vice Chair), Sandy Greyson, Tiffinni A. Young,Jennifer S. Gates, Philip T. Kingston

SUEJECT Cell Phone Use While Driving

On Monday, March 27, 2017, you will be briefed on Cell Phone Use While Driving by Major DannyWilliams, Dallas Police Department. The briefing materials are attached for your review.

Please contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

Eric D. CampbellAssistant City Manager

[Attachmentl

cc: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City CouncilTC. Broadnax, City ManagerLarry Casto, City AttorneyCraig D. Kinton, City AuditorRosa A. Rios, City SecretaryDaniel F. Solis, Administrative JudgeKimberly Bizor Tolbert, Chief of Staff to the City ManagerTheresa O’Donnell, Interim Chief of Economic Development &Nrkghborhood Services

Majed A. Al-Ghafry, Assistant City ManagerMark McDaniel, Assistant City ManagerJill A. Jordan, RE,. Assistant City ManagerJoey Zapata, Assistant City ManagerM. Elizabeth Reich, Chief Financial OfficerAlan E. Sims, Interim Chief of Community ServicesDirectors and Assistant Directors

D&as, The C!y Tat Wor-,s D:verse Jbrant and Prccressve

Public Safety Committee

March 27, 2017

Danny Williams, Major

Dallas Police Department

City of Dallas

Cell Phone Use

While Driving

Presentation Overview

• Background

• Purpose

• Operational or Business Concerns

• Operational Impact

2

Public Safety

Background

• Texas Cell Phone Use While Driving (2009)

• Drivers under 18

• Learners permit holders

• School Bus drivers

• All drivers - using handheld devices in

school crossing zones

3

Public Safety

Background

• Cell phone bans in the state of Texas (2009)

• All uses of wireless devices while driving

• Texting while driving

• Texting and all manual uses of wireless

devices while driving

4

Public Safety

Background

• 2008 Council approved Cell Phone Use

While Driving warning signs in school zones

• Enforcement in Dallas school zones

• Texas Cell Phone law

• Senate Bill 31

5

Public Safety

Purpose

• Distracted driver

• Increase collision risk

• 105,000 crashes

• 422 fatality crashes

6

Public Safety

Operational Concerns

• Enforcement difficulties

• High volume traffic

• Saturated patrols and

“spotters”

• School zones

7

Public Safety

Operational Concerns

• Arlington-comprehensive Cell Phone Use

While Driving ordinance

• Ordinance includes dialing and talking –defense-emergency, hands free, GPS/affixed

5

7362 63 56

95

0

50

100

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Arlington, TXCity Wide

Citations

21

341480

401321 299

207 148

0

200

400

600

Arlington, TXSchool Zones

Citations 8

Public Safety

Operational Concerns

• Both cities have a comprehensive Cell

Phone Use While Driving ordinance

• Dialing and talking - defense if stopped, emergency, hands free, GPS/affixed

51245957

160

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

2015 2016 2017(ytd)

Austin Police

Citations

11055

14007

00

5000

10000

15000

2015 2016 2017 (no data)

San Antonio Police

Citations9

Public Safety

Operational Concerns

• School Zone Enforcement

• Defense - if vehicle is stopped, emergency call, hands free, GPS/affixed

721

419338 311 274

0

200

400

600

800

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017(ytd)

Dallas Police

Citations10

Public Safety

Operational Concerns

• Public awareness

• Grace period

• Enforcement campaign

• Informational packets

• Unmarked vehicles

• Grant enforcement

11

Public Safety

Operational Concerns

• Alternative enforcement

• Impeding traffic

• Fail to signal lane change

• Following to closely

• Fail to maintain a single lane of traffic

12

Public Safety

Proposed Action

• Comprehensive Cell Phone Use While

Driving ordinance

• Ordinance wording

• Public service announcements (radio/TV)

• Signage

13

Public Safety

Danny Williams, Major

Dallas Police Department

City of Dallas

Public Safety Committee

March 27, 2017

Cell Phone Use

While Driving