Perryville bans texting by young drivers, truckers

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville Board of Aldermen sent a message to truckers and teenagers Tuesday night: Hang up and drive.

At its regular meeting Tuesday, the board unanimously approved an ordinance banning text messaging by drivers age 21 and younger and by commercial drivers.

Under the ordinance, drivers age 21 and younger are barred from using cellphones or similar devices to send, read or write electronic messages.

The ordinance also makes it illegal for anyone, regardless of age, to use a handheld mobile telephone while driving a commercial vehicle.

The ordinance was one of two traffic laws the board approved Tuesday.

The second was an ordinance increasing the fines for moving violations in active emergency zones.

Under the new ordinance, the first time drivers commit a moving violation in an emergency zone, they will receive a $35 fine in addition to any other fines that may apply; for subsequent offenses, that amount will go up to $75.

If emergency responders are present at the time of the violation, the additional fines will be $250 for a first offense and $300 for subsequent offenses, and that amount could go as high as $1,000 if a driver's actions endanger emergency responders, the ordinance states.

In other business Tuesday, the board:

* Adopted the city budget for fiscal year 2014-2015.

* Approved mowing contracts with ELB Lawn Care and Green View Lawn Care. ELB will mow Chamber of Commerce park, and Green View will mow School Street Park and Viola Blechle Park.

* Heard the first reading of an ordinance concerning disposal and collection of solid waste, limbs and debris.

* Heard the first reading of an ordinance allowing the city to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Perry County Health Department to use the Perry Park Center in the event of a public health emergency.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Perryville, MO