Attorney Fighting Amarillo's Cell Phone Ban
By: Kelly James
Updated: January 22, 2013
AMARILLO -- Only about two dozen drivers have received warnings for violating Amarillo's ban on hand held cell phones while driving.
When police start handing out tickets next month, a local attorney wants to help fight it.
Violators face up to $200 in fines.
But Amarillo attorney Adam Tisdell thinks he knows how to fight it. In court.
He is offering to defend the first person who will fight the ticket in front of a jury, free of charge.
Amarillo residents have been warned since September that this new law was coming.
But, several groups have complained since the passage of the ordinance.
One group started a petition to put the issue of the ban on the ballot for residents to decide.
The biggest complaint is that the ordinance is too over reaching and unenforceable.
Tisdell says it gives police too much power to pull anyone over for anything.
City commissioners say the issue is about safety.
They have said all along their priority with this law is to save lives. Just about every reputable study on the issue confirms using your cell phone while driving is dangerous.
Tisdell is among the more than 1,000 people who have signed a petition to put the issue to a citywide vote.
The group that started the petition has until February first to get about 3,900 signatures from registered voters in Amarillo.
When police start handing out tickets next month, a local attorney wants to help fight it.
Violators face up to $200 in fines.
But Amarillo attorney Adam Tisdell thinks he knows how to fight it. In court.
He is offering to defend the first person who will fight the ticket in front of a jury, free of charge.
Amarillo residents have been warned since September that this new law was coming.
But, several groups have complained since the passage of the ordinance.
One group started a petition to put the issue of the ban on the ballot for residents to decide.
The biggest complaint is that the ordinance is too over reaching and unenforceable.
Tisdell says it gives police too much power to pull anyone over for anything.
City commissioners say the issue is about safety.
They have said all along their priority with this law is to save lives. Just about every reputable study on the issue confirms using your cell phone while driving is dangerous.
Tisdell is among the more than 1,000 people who have signed a petition to put the issue to a citywide vote.
The group that started the petition has until February first to get about 3,900 signatures from registered voters in Amarillo.
