In the past two years, both Whitefish and Columbia Falls city officials have banned the use of cellphones by motorists, and police officers in those cities are enforcing the law.

From Sept. 20, 2011 — the date the Whitefish ban went into effect — to the end of that year, 19 citations were issued. In 2012, officers issued 114 citations. Whitefish Municipal Court staff believed that just two of those citations were for repeat offenses. The total in fines levied thus far is nearly $14,000.

It also seems Whitefish is not having a problem collecting the fines, as court staff indicated anecdotally that roughly 90 percent or more of the people cited are not contesting the ticket.

In addition to the citations, officers have issued nearly 1,000 warnings, based on the department’s general rule of issuing one warning before citing drivers for the offense, Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said.

“We think it’s a good ordinance to have up here,” Dial said. “I would estimate somewhere near 90 percent of people I’ve talked to in the community were supportive.”

Dial said the ordinance was “just common sense,” and shared his expectation that a similar measure would be taken up statewide by the Legislature this year.

“It’s a public safety issue and we get good results with it,” he said.

Dial also encouraged people to behave responsibly and use hands-free systems or pull over if they need to use their phone.

The Whitefish ban exempts law enforcement as well as fire/ambulance personnel.

Columbia Falls passed its own ban roughly a year after Whitefish, which went into effect on Sept. 6, 2012. Since then, officers have written 30 citations, and all but one of them have been settled and paid.

Like the Whitefish law, first citations bring a fine of up to $100 with second or subsequent offenses bringing a fine of up to $300. As all of the citations so far have been for first offenses, the total amount of fines collected in Columbia Falls amounts to $2,900.

Columbia Falls Police Chief Dave Perry said he and his officers have seen an impact from the ordinance.

“We feel it’s reduced,” Perry said. “You don’t see near as many people with a cellphone to their ear.”

Like Dial, Perry said almost all the comments he has received have been favorable.

“Nobody can dispute the fact that talking on your cellphone while driving distracts you,” Perry said. “It’s a good ordinance, really. It keeps everybody safe.”

The Columbia Falls ban does not apply to people reporting a health, fire, safety or police emergency, drivers with an amateur radio license, drivers using two-way radios for work-related duties or drivers of authorized emergency vehicles. It does, however, apply to bicyclists.

Fines collected from the citations in both Whitefish and Columbia Falls are deposited in each city’s general fund.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].