Libby council adopts distracted-driving ordinance

The Libby City Council adopted Ordinance 20‑53 on second reading, creating a new distracted‑driving chapter in Title 10 aimed at reducing accidents tied to cell‑phone use.

Council member (speaker 4) moved to adopt the ordinance; Mayor Williams seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. The ordinance adds definitions and local enforcement language the council said is intended to deter phone‑related driving behavior while state legislation addressing the issue is pending.

The measure drew public comment about process and scope. DC Orr (public commenter) alleged procedural irregularities tied to earlier committee activity and said the council had not properly voted to move the item forward. "Mayor Williams, by allowing that, committed official misconduct, which is an impeachable offense," Orr said; the council did not take formal disciplinary action during the meeting and did not respond with a procedural ruling in session.

Council members discussed an exemption clause for government or emergency responders. One councilor asked whether exemptions are limited to on‑duty employees or apply more broadly; councilors noted Chief Erkenbrock was unable to attend the meeting and that the chief had addressed similar language in previous discussions. The council did not amend the exemption language during the meeting and adopted the ordinance as presented.

The ordinance was introduced as the council referenced an increase in traffic accidents attributed to distracted driving and said creating local code language would supplement state action. The council did not record a roll‑call tally in the minutes provided at the meeting; adoption was announced by voice vote.

Ordinance 20‑53 is now adopted; the council did not announce an effective date at the meeting.

(Reporting based on council discussion and public comment during the March 7 city council meeting.)