Montana City Bans Using Cellphones While Driving

The Missoula City Council has passed a ban on the use of cellphones while driving or riding bicycles three years after first raising the issue.

Council members voted 10-1 Monday in favor of the ban, which includes exceptions for hands-free devices, law enforcement and emergency vehicles and emergency phone calls.

Councilman Adam Hertz says he supports the ban, but voted against the new ordinance because he would rather see it passed as a ballot initiative.

The council first passed a ban in 2009, but it didn’t include an exception for hands-free devices. Residents complained and Mayor John Engen vetoed most of it.

Most major Montana cities have a similar ban.