A ban on texting-while-driving in Oro Valley has been put on hold while more research is done.
Oro Valley councilmembers backed off a plan to move forward this week, giving the town manager time to complete more research on why, and how, a potential texting-while-driving ban would work.
Vice Mayor Lou Waters proposed the research of a potential ban and Councilmember Mary Snider seconded it during a council meeting this week.
Councilman Mike Zinkin said he had questions the town manager must answer before he feels comfortable supporting the proposal.
Zinkin worries if Oro Valley passes a law contrary to what the state already has, it could affect its state-shared revenue.
Gary Verburg, Oro Valley town attorney, said he would evaluate the specifics of state law so the council can address the issue later.
Arizona is one of two states that doesnโt have a statewide specific texting-while-driving ban. That means cities and towns are tasked with creating their own.
Tucson has an ordinance that says drivers cannot text while driving, but it is difficult to enforce, police have said.
โI think these cities and towns that are now instituting their own bans is an effort to push the state of Arizona to do something definitive about it,โ Waters said.
