$106 ticket for drivers who violate cellphone ban in Beachwood, law now enforced

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Starting Tuesday, drivers in Beachwood can get pulled over for using a cellphone while driving. That includes texting and talking.

The ticket costs $106 and violators will receive two points on their license. It's considered a first degree misdemeanor.

The ban was passed by the Beachwood City Council back in June.

For weeks now, police have been giving people warnings about this ban.

Beachwood's police chief has said in the past these tougher traffic laws will help reduce crashes and improve public safety.

Traffic Commander of the Beachwood Police Department, Mark Zuzek, said speed used to be the number one cause of accidents. "But we believe it's distracted driving moreso than a speed issue nowadays where people are either texting or looking at their phone or punching in phone numbers," he said.

Driver, Nate Arnold, appreciates having the law. "I think it's dangerous thing when people talk on the cell phone, my wife agrees I see no purpose for it," he said.

Here's a list of other communities in northeast Ohio that already have cellphone bans in place:

- Brooklyn
- North Olmsted
- North Royalton
- South Euclid
- Walton Hills
- Woodmere