Valley Breeze

pawtucket edition | valley breeze | June 18-24, 2014 Pawtucket 3 By ETHAN SHOREY breeze online news editor ethan@valleybreeze.com PAWTUCKET – Local police officers say the job of enforcing texting violations will be a whole lot easier if the General Assembly approves a proposed total ban on use of cell phones while driving. Maj. Arthur Martins, spokes- man for the Pawtucket Police Department, said a bill that bans calls while holding a cell phone but allows "hands- free" use "would clarify what a police officer would need to observe" to issue a violation for using a phone. On June 5, the Rhode Island Senate approved a bill, sponsored by Sen. Susan Sosnowski of District 37 in South Kingstown and New Shoreham, that would make unlawful the use of any non- hands-free personal wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle, except for public safety per- sonnel or in emergency situa- tions. Those caught violating the proposed law would face a fine of no more than $100. That fine can be suspended for a first-time violator who provides proof of acquisition of a hands-free accessory sub- sequent to the violation and prior to the imposition of the fine. If the House of Representatives follows the Senate's lead, Rhode Island drivers could see a ban on all cell phone use in cars as early as June 1, 2017. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review. Research conducted by the National Highway Safety Administration found that drivers talking on a cell phone have a similar reaction time to someone with a blood alcohol level of .08, said Martins. "This creates an unneces- sary distraction that has the potential for impacting public safety," he said. "Therefore, any measures that will help prevent and lessen tragic inci- dents such as fatalities (and) accidents resulting in serious bodily injury or property dam- age is important from a public law enforcement standpoint." The Breeze reported last month that local police had only issued just 53 citations for texting while driving since a state ban went into effect in 2009. Martins said later that enforcing the texting ban is a challenge because it's difficult to determine whether a motor- ist is texting, making a call, checking the time or weather, or monitoring their GPS device, among other activities. Often the driver will do the texting in their lap, he said, making it hard to see what they are doing. With a complete hand-held phone ban, said Martins, all those questions would be erased if an officer sees some- one using their phone for any activity. Martins said police do not conduct regular patrols to try to catch people who text while driving. Sosnowski said in a news release that it is no longer enough to just issue fines to people caught texting while driving. Driving with the wheel in one hand and a phone in the other can be equally distracting, she said. "We don't need a set of data to show us how real the dan- gers of distracted drivers can be," she said. "Admittedly, many of us have grown accus- tomed to using mobile devices in almost every aspect of our lives, including in our cars and trucks. "This is especially true for our younger population, who grew up with this kind of technology embedded in their daily lives," she said. "It's important not to forget that every time we step into a vehicle, we are taking our lives and the lives of others into our own hands." Police: Cell phone ban would put teeth to texting rules MARTINS PAWTUCKET – Thirteen Canada geese were killed by a motorist traveling around the big bend on Armistice Boulevard near the Pawtucket Country Club last Friday at around 11 a.m. Animal Control Officer John Holmes told The Breeze there were no witnesses but plenty of upset people after the bodies of the geese were discovered. "I don't think it was intentional at all," he said. "Whoever it was should have stopped because there's no question they knew they hit them, but they didn't." The location where the geese were found, on the sharp bend near the bike path, seem to confirm that this was not intentional, said Holmes. One adult goose survived, said Holmes. He was treated at Pawtucket Animal Control and then released to the Slater Park Pond, where he was "accepted right away" by other geese. Several of the geese were younger goslings, said Holmes, but not newborn. One goose survives Armistice Boulevard incident FOXBORO, Mass. – Raymond Gannon, a vol- unteer with the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, is one of 10 second-place winners of $10,000 from the Kraft fam- ily and New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards. The awards place a spot- light on those who give their time to help others and exemplify leadership, dedication and a com- mitment to improving their commu- nities through volunteerism. On June 9, Gannon and 25 other vol- unteers were recognized for their contributions at a lun- cheon and awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. Each Community MVP received grants for their nonprofit organizations. Fifteen New England-based organizations were presented with $5,000 grants in honor of their vol- unteers' work. Ten others received grants of $10,000 and one grand prize winner was presented $25,000. "Every year, we ask New England nonprofit orga- nizations to nominate one volunteer who they con- sider their MVPs," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. "This year, we received a record number of nominations from over 400 nonprofits. Their sto- ries are heartwarming and inspirational and narrowing the field to 26 winners gets more difficult every year. As a lifelong volunteer herself, this was always Myra's favor- ite event. I am so glad that her legacy continues to live through the great work of all the Myra Kraft Community MVPs." On hand to congratulate the award winners were members of the ownership team and the football team. "Since the first day the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen has opened, Ray Gannon has been a strong advocate for everyone walking through our doors," said Chuck Sczuroski, president of the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen. "Ray has made it a per- sonal mission to mentor high school students, other volunteers and fellow Board members, including me, by leading us with his example and challenging us all to serve those in need. Ray has always insisted that by providing a healthy balanced meal in a friendly environ- ment we can make a differ- ence for those in need." Soup Kitchen's Gannon wins Patriots award GANNON you're holding 1 newspaper, but we fill 5 every week! they're all at valleybreeze.com do you know? you can place a classified ad anytime at valleybreeze.com Click on 'Breeze Classifieds' do you know? 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