Archives for January 2023

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed Senate Bill 288, which significantly strengthens laws in Ohio related to the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving.

“Signing this bill today is a great honor because this legislation will, without a doubt, prevent crashes and save lives,” said DeWine. “Right now, too many people are willing to risk their lives while behind the wheel to get a look at their phones. My hope is that this legislation will prompt a cultural shift around distracted driving that normalizes the fact that distracted driving is dangerous, irresponsible, and just as deadly as driving drunk.”

Senate Bill 288 designates the use of cell phones and other electronic communications devices while driving as a primary traffic offense for all drivers and allows law enforcement to immediately pull over a distracted driver upon witnessing a violation. Under the previous law, distracted driving was a primary offense only for juvenile drivers, preventing officers from stopping adult distracted drivers unless those drivers also committed a separate primary traffic violation, such as speeding or running a red light.

“This bill helps ensure that Ohio law reflects modern realities while supporting law enforcement in their mission to keep drivers safe,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. “I commend Gov. DeWine for championing this effort, which will bring about real change when it comes to distracted driving – ultimately saving lives.”

“My prayer is that this law will save lives. We can do nothing to bring our Maria back, but we are determined to keep other families from going through the nightmare of losing a child or a loved one on our roadways,” said Dom Tiberi, sports anchor for WBNS 10-TV and founder along with his wife, Terri, of the Maria Tiberi Foundation named in honor of their late daughter, Maria, who was killed in a distracted driving accident. The foundation encourages defensive driving and educates about the dangers of distracted driving.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that there have been at least 73,945 distracted driving crashes in Ohio since 2017, including 2,186 fatal and serious injury crashes. Traffic fatalities overall have increased in eight of nine years from 2013 to 2021, with deaths reaching their highest point in nearly two decades in 2021 with 1,355 fatalities. Preliminary traffic data from 2022 indicates that at least 1,269 people were killed in traffic crashes last year.

“Certainly not all fatal traffic crashes are caused by distracted driving, but it’s no coincidence that evolving smartphone technology has coincided with increasing roadway deaths and injuries,” added DeWine. “Other states with similar distracted driving laws have experienced fewer fatal crashes, and we expect that this enhanced distracted driving law will have the same impact here.”

Under the new law, a driver may still use their device in specific circumstances:

*When their vehicle is parked or stopped at a red light.
*Drivers are also permitted to swipe their phones to answer a call
*Drivers can  hold their phones to their ears during phone conversations.
*Emergency calls are also permitted in all circumstances.

Senate Bill 288 will go into effect in 90 days. Law enforcement will issue warnings to drivers found violating the law for the first six months following the effective date. After this six-month grace period, law enforcement will have the authority to issue citations. Penalties include a fine of up to $150 for a driver’s first offense and two points on their license unless a distracted driving safety course is completed. Increased penalties can occur if the driver is a repeat offender.

DeWine Signed Bill That Make Holding Cell Phone While Driving An Offense

The new Northmont Branch, located at 700 West National Road in Englewood, will open to the public with a Grand Opening on Saturday, January 7, from 10 am – 12 pm. A ribbon cutting will be held at approximately 10:15 am.

Patrons and community members from Englewood, Union, Clayton, Phillipsburg, and other surrounding areas will be able to celebrate the new Branch by enjoying light refreshments, meeting the Northmont Branch staff and DML’s famous mascots Pip and Cosmo, engaging with ReImagining Works artists who created new artwork specifically for the Branch, and touring the Branch.

The new Branch is more than 19,000 square feet and will have many of the same dedicated spaces DML’s other new and/or renovated facilities have:

• A Quiet Reading Room for adults
• A “Building Connections” themed Children’s Area, including the unique design of a 16’x4’ Lego mosaic that was built by youth patrons of the Library and a structure built from Tubelox
• A Teen Edge with a gaming console
• A Community Room
• Collaborative Meeting Spaces
• Laptop Lending
• Public Computers with Wi-Fi
• Learning Stations
• 24-hour Holds Lockers
• And much more

The ReImagining Works artists and their work for the new Branch are:

• Tricia Calvert, Dayton: a glass work composed of small, light boxes and playful colors in abstract geometric composition will be in the Quiet Reading Room.
• Amy Deal, Dayton: a nature-inspired diptych panel using a variety of media will be in the Community Room.
• Gae Helton, Dayton: titled Dragonflies and Poppies, this glass mosaic will be in the Marketplace and references the beauty of the natural world.
• Gary Hinsche, Dayton: Ode to Kenneth is a large-scale acrylic featuring the artist’s signature hard-edge color field style, which will also be in the Marketplace.

Architects for the new Northmont Branch were Ruetschle Architects, with Shook Construction handling construction management.

The opening of DML’s newest Branch is a result of the Library’s facilities project, Libraries for a Smarter Future. This project stems from a $187 million bond issue passed by Montgomery County voters in 2012, which has allowed the Library to update or renovate its Branches and Operations Center downtown. One facility remains in the project: Huber Heights’ new Branch, opening tentatively in the Spring 2023.

Regular operating hours for the Northmont Branch will be Monday/Tuesday/Thursday: 9:30 am – 8:30 pm, Wednesday/Friday/Saturday: 9:30 am – 6 pm, and closed Sunday. Programming will begin soon. Patrons can visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org/Programs to check the status of programs or may call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937.463.2665 with questions.