Results tagged “pennsylvaniageneralassembly”

In a move that stumps us over here at Phillyist, since the veto period is over and the bill is officially enforceable, Mayor Nutter is scheduled to sign the ban today. This strikes us as somewhat unnecessary and, if the Mayor reads the papers, a quiet statement of independence. We reported on Tuesday that, in lieu of legislation making its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the city stands to lose millions in funding for enacting its own ban. Here's to hoping someone in City Hall realizes this, and then does something about it. The people may have already had their last chance to chime in on the budget, but a city under budget pressure like ours should be careful about maintaining its eligibility for state-sponsored infrastrcture funding.

The Philadelphia Business Journal is reporting that, because the ten-day timeline for a veto from Mayor Nutter has passed, the unanimously-approved City Council bill banning the use of handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle is now officially enforceable. The bill applies to cars, bicycles, skateboards, in-line skates and even scooters (but does "scooter" include Rascals?). Moreover, state legislation that has gone from the PA House to the Senate chimes in on the distracted drivers issue. Pennsylvania would consider distracted driving offenses like those regulated by Philly's law 'secondary', meaning that cops couldn't pull you over just because you're screaming into your handset while you're screaming down the highway. The state law also penalizes local governments for having their own take on it. In Philadelphia's case, that may mean over $250M in lost infrastructure funding over the next three years.