Cell Phone Petition Deadline Nears
By: Alexandra Stone
Updated: January 28, 2013
"We started the cell phone petition because it wasn't clear during the meetings that Amarillo wanted a cell phone ban the way the ordinanace is written. A majority of people we talked to are fine with a texting ban similar to what Canyon passed but a complete cell phone or hands held cell phone ban, very few people expected that," David Kossey, one of the petition organizers said.
According to Kossey they have petitions at 36 locations around Amarillo and more than three thousand sigantures at last check.
And city commissioner Ellen Robertson-Green says it's all part of the process.
"We at the city commission thought that we had enough information, and we had had enough public hearings to go ahead and make this an ordinance to pass the ordinanace ourselves without taking it to a vote. And so that was our decision at the time. But the city charter allows for a vote, so I'm fine if people want to vote on something then it's their right," Robertson-Green said
If the names don't up add come February first, Kossey says, they'll keep at it.
Organizers of the petition would need all the signatures 90 days before the November election, although starting March 16th, the current signatures will start to expire day by day.
