Erie, Pa. council tweaks cell-phone ban law

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Erie City Council has tweaked the city’s new hand-held cell phone ban by increasing fines for drivers who cause crashes while using their phones.

Phone-using drivers who cause crashes will be fined $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for each offense thereafter. Before Wednesday’s amendment, the fines were $150 and $300 whether or not the phone use contributed to a crash. The lesser fines still apply to drivers caught using their phones.

Council has tweaked the law several times since it went into effect Jan. 5. Among other things, council inserted specific language making cell-phone use a secondary offense. That means drivers can only be cited for cell-phone use if they’re stopped for another offense.

The ordinance makes exceptions for emergency calls.