At the Nov. 5 Snowflake Town Council meeting, the council listened to the first reading of Ordinance 2019-02, which would make an ordinance that would allow police officers to issue a citation for drivers who are utilizing or touching a wireless communication device while operating a vehicle.
“The proposed town code ordinance is basically a word-for-word of the state’s statute that is in effect right now but only in the warning stages until Jan. 1, 2021. There is a provision in that state statute that allows towns to enact an ordinance prior to that time to be able to actually assess and issue out town code violation citations for driving with their hands using a wireless device. This is an update to our already existing town code,” explained Police Chief Bobby Martin.
He noted that there would be stipulations on the ordinance. Drivers would still be able to use their phone while at a stop sign or stop light and while parked. Additionally, drivers would still be able to utilize headsets and Bluetooth in their vehicles. The council approved the first reading with Councilman Cory Johnson dissenting and Councilwoman Allison Perkins absent. The ordinance still requires one more reading from the council before it becomes an official town code.
Councilmembers requested more information from Chief Martin regarding communities in the area and whether or not they have enacted a similar policy. Councilmembers have also expressed concern over how it would affect the image of the community. State law currently is in the warning-only stage but will be changing in January of 2021, when the proposed town code would become void.
“Where we’re at right now, because of the state statute, we are in the warning-only stages and it is not having the desired effect. People know it’s in the warning-only phase and that we can’t do anything more than that and the desired effect of issuing a town code violation, whether it’s town code or state code, is to change driving behavior and it’s just not being done,” clarified Chief Martin.
Chief Martin also made the council aware of three upgrades that are needed for the police department to work more safely and efficiently. The first upgrade would be to their dispatch system. The Snowflake-Taylor Police Department would need to switch from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in order to continue to receive funding from the government.
The second upgrade would be a mapping software that would track police and fire personnel. “The second upgrade is a mapping software that would allow dispatch and officers to see each other while they’re on duty. Tablets that we purchased earlier this year would become their automatic vehicle location system, their GPS devices, those devices would then map on a map within the RIMS CAD (computer-aided dispatch) system. That includes fire personnel, as well,” explained Chief Martin. This would allow dispatch to assign the closest available unit rather than generate a random assignment, which would allow for quicker response times from emergency services. This software is also required for the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department to continue the consolidation process with Show Low Police Department’s dispatch.
The final upgrade would digitize the Police Department’s auditing process for evidence. The police department is required to audit the evidence room several times a year and currently takes several officers a month to complete each time. With the new system requested by Chief Martin, officers would be able to place a bar code on evidence and scan it into a computer to do the audit instead. The software would be able to let the officers auditing know exactly where a piece of evidence is located and would shorten the time necessary to complete the process from one month to one day. These three upgrades can be placed on a lease and would cost $20,000 a year for three years for the police department to receive these upgrades.
The council also recognized Wastewater Plant Operator Gary Leach who is retiring after 32 years of serving the city. Councilmembers commented on Leach’s service with fondness and told some quick anecdotes about him and congratulated him on his outstanding service as an employee.
“I’d like to thank the town for all they’ve done for me all these years. I’ve been very fortunate. I always felt a part of the town and I always tried my best to make sure everything was safe and to keep the town above water and I thank you,” said Leach in response to the praise he received from the council.
