Rest the phone or go hands-free in Battle Creek

BATTLE CREEK (AP) — Police in Battle Creek are enforcing a local ban on the handheld use of a phone while driving.

The prohibition has been on the books for months, but signs recently went up at Battle Creek’s city entry points. Police now will write tickets if necessary.

Battle Creek said it’s one of only a few Michigan cities to ban drivers from holding and using a phone to talk, check email or perform other functions. Hands-free phone use with Bluetooth is legal.

“There are plenty of distractions on the road as it is,” Lt. Jim Martens told MLive.com. “Creating more, especially when they’re not necessary — it doesn’t help you or the other people on the road.”

A first offense is $100.