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Council adopts ordinances to modernize malicious-telephone, restrict nicotine vaping in schools and protect emergency callers
Summary
The City Council approved amendments to local ordinances updating language on malicious uses of the telephone, aligning tobacco penalties with state law and adding an obstruction-of-officers provision to protect emergency callers; all votes were unanimous.
The Livonia City Council on Tuesday adopted three ordinance changes intended to modernize local offenses and enhance protections for residents and emergency services. The council voted unanimously, 7-0, to modernize the malicious-use-of-telephone ordinance, to amend the local tobacco-sales ordinance to mirror state penalties and prohibit use of nicotine vapes in school buildings, and to add an ordinance criminalizing interference with emergency services. Why it matters: Council members said the measures respond to trends the court and police have observed and provide clearer language and penalties for contemporary technology and public-safety needs. What passed: Councilmember Linda Scheele offered second readings and motions for final passage on the malicious-telephone language update and on the obstruction-of-officers provision; Councilwoman Budzinski offered the second reading on the tobacco/vape revisions. Each roll call returned an "Aye" from Council member Toye, Council member Donovan, Vice President Tashnik, Council member Budzinski, Council member Shield, Council member Morgan and President McCullough. Council comments: Officials said the court and legal department reviewed the ordinances and that the city sought to align penalties with state statutes where appropriate and to address conduct that can impede emergency response. Ending: The measures passed unanimously and will be codified in the Livonia Code of Ordinances as amended.
