Fewer people driving while talking on cell phones is a good thing. You’d think an official responsible for outlawing it would’ve known that.

When Chicago officials signed a policy which outlawed driving while gabbing on cell phones, it seemed like a good way to improve vehicle safety and reduce accidents city-wide. Any motorists caught violating the law have their licenses confiscated.

But when city Alderman Tom Tunney was pulled over last year for violating the law he helped put into effect, he pulled a power card. After returning to his office — sans-license — Tunney called Town Hall District Commander Gary Yamashiroya and asked why officers in “an understaffed police district were assigned to pull people over solely for cell phone violations.”

Yamashiroya quickly ordered an officer to return the confiscated license to the alderman’s office.

After an in-depth investigation by Chicago P.D.’s Internal Affairs Division, both Yamashiroya and Tunney were cleared of any wrong-doing. Soon after, Mayor Richard Daley introduced a new ordinance that altered the cell phone rule. Distracted motorists would still receive a ticket for the violation, but they’d be able to hang onto their licenses and contest the tickets by mail or an administrative hearing.

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Tags: Cell phone, Chicago, Police, Tickets, Violation