A town in France plans to ban the use of mobile phones in public places

A town in France plans to ban the use of mobile phones in public places

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In the town of Saint-Port, which is located south of Paris, residents voted to ban the use of mobile phones in public places.

The population of St. Port is less than 2,000 people. A total of 277 people took part in the voting, writes The Guardian.

The new municipal decree, which the mayor of the city, Vincent Paul-Peti, will announce in the coming days, includes a ban on the use of phones and other gadgets while walking on the street, in front of schools, in shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. This is the first such decree in France.

The town also approved a statute for families regarding the use of gadgets by children: no “screens” in the morning, before bed and during meals. If the parents of the teenagers sign a written consent not to give the child a smartphone under the age of 15, the city hall undertakes to give the child an old-style phone only for conversations.

Photo: Talaj/Depositphotos

Also, according to the results of the referendum, the “Charter without screens” was created in the city, which undertook to offer young people alternative classes. In particular, the mayor of the town promised to build a sports center and a cinema for children and teenagers so that they would be actively engaged and “away from the screens”.

However, police officers cannot stop or fine people for using the gadgets because there is no relevant law. At the same time, the mayor calls the upcoming innovation “an incentive to stop using mobile phones.”

Store owners are encouraged to put up notices on their windows prohibiting the use of smartphones and ask people to comply.

I want to protect public places from the “invasion” of smartphones. It’s not about banning all phones outright, but about people refraining from using them in public. It’s about the element of smartphone addiction, when we can no longer take our eyes off the screens.

We will encourage businesses not to cater to smartphone users. If they are on the phone, they can finish it outside and then go in and get what they need“, Mayor Paul Petit explained.

The use of smartphones in public is increasingly becoming a political issue in France. Last month, the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said he would consult with scientific experts to “determine the most optimal use of smartphones” for children.

Read also: Can Smartphone Use Contribute To Male Infertility – Study

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