Town Council member Matt Czajkowski’s recommendation Monday to repeal a contested ban on cell phone use while driving failed in a 5-2 vote.
Durham Judge Orlando Hudson voided the town’s cell phone use ban and its towing regulations in August when he sided with a civil lawsuit filed by George's Towing.
The town has appealed the case to the N.C. Court of Appeals.
“As we all know, we have no shortage of lawsuits,” Czajkowski said. “In fact, I think I read … we’ve actually hired outside counsel to help us with one of these, because the time demands have reached a point where we need some help.”
He and council member Laurin Easthom voted in favor of repealing the cell phone ordinance. However, Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt and council members Jim Ward, Lee Storrow, Donna Bell and Ed Harrison rejected the motion.
Flora Parrish, Chapel Hill Police records supervisor, said the town continues to get complaints about towing every day. She recorded three complaints Tuesday, she said.
Most are complaining about George's Towing, and usually about the high cost of being towed, Parrish said. George's Towing charges $90 for a car that is hooked up to the tow truck but hasn't left the parking lot. It costs $180 to retrieve a towed car.
