Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • February 13, 2013 Area Village woman seeks ‘texting while driving’ checks by John Koster Ridgewood resident Anne Loving has asked the Ridgewood Village Council to consider allowing the police to check cell phones for evidence of recent texting by drivers in the aftermath of serious automotive crashes. Loving said texting is by far the most dangerous distraction that a motorist could engage in and that police should have the right -- which they are deemed not to have at present -- of examining motorists’ cell phones for recent text messages in the aftermath of collisions, much as they might conduct breath alcohol and sobriety tests. “We all know that texting while driving is against the law, but in so many accidents it is never revealed whether a text was in progress when a car crashed into a pole, hit another car, struck a pedestrian or a bicyclist, drove off the street and into a house, or simply was pulled over for careless driving,” Loving said. “If law enforcement officials could be allowed to crack down on texting, hopefully drivers would think twice before engaging in this extraordinarily risky activity. This would lead to a reduction in the number of accidents, and would make our village safer.” Loving said that as a passenger on regular commutes between Ridgewood and Hoboken, she noted that about one motorist in three was engaged in texting while driving. “Of the many things that can distract a driver, such as changing a radio station, reaching into the glove compartment, looking at a GPS, sipping coffee, and so on, texting is clearly among the most dangerous,” she told the council. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that texting while driving is especially risky because it combines all three possible types of distraction, which are: visual -- taking your eyes off the road; manual -- taking one or both hands off the wheel; and cognitive -- taking your mind off what you are doing.” Loving said Ridgewood could be at the forefront of a major safety initiative by making it standard procedure for police to look at drivers’ phones for texting activity. She said Ridgewood had led the state in cracking down on the use of hand-held phones and that a crackdown on texting would also lead the way for a solid, sensible procedure in terms of texting. She admitted that several police officers, Ridgewood Village Attorney Matt Rogers, and Westchester County Judge Susan Capeci were of the opinion that it would be construed as a violation of the drivers’ constitutional rights to look into the recent history of cell phone calls without probable cause. “I don’t like being told that something which makes sense cannot be done,” Loving said. “So, in spite of their opinions, I did some research myself and found that, in fact, all around the United States, state and local police officers are taking the initiative to search cell phones without warrants. The Internet is packed with such stories...I believe there is enough information to justify further study of this matter, to ascertain the legality of warrantless searches, and hopefully to then establish a local Ridgewood policy.” Mayor Paul Aronsohn and the members of the council indicated that it was an interesting idea and said they would look into it. “Cracking down on texting while driving is an idea that makes sense,” Loving added. “To me, there is no point in having a law if it cannot be actively enforced. Again, I am here to ask the council to investigate whether it would be legal for a police officer to check the cellular phone of a driver for text message activity without a search warrant. And, if it is determined be the legal, I would like to see a standard procedure adopted in Ridgewood whereby police officers would automatically ask a driver not only for his or her license and registration but also for (his or her) cellular phone. The phone would be checked to see if a text message had been sent in the moments preceding the officer’s request.” Ridgewood Parks and Recreation will offer its “Healthy Gourmet Lunch and Learn Series for Adults” on Tuesdays from March 5 through April 16. Programs will be held at the Stable, which is located at 259 North Maple Avenue. Instruction and cooking demonstrations will be provided by natural foods chef and certified holistic health coach Christine M. Okezie. Learn how nutrient dense foods can increase energy, boost immunity, optimize digestive health, and help achieve ideal weight without diet or deprivation. Learn about “super foods,” what to eat to reduce the risks for disease and obesity, and discover the best foods to boost metabolism and reduce cravings. Chef Christine will prepare a delicious and nourishing two-course lunch. Classes will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The five classes cost of $95. Register online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass or in person or by mail at The Stable. Call (201) 6705560 for details. Nutrition series offered