City officials in Orting are considering an ordinance prohibiting inattentive driving, but they’re worried citizens will see it as a money-grubbing move.

The ordinance would be similar to municipal laws in Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Sumner and Lakewood that punish drivers who multitask or otherwise fail to pay full attention while driving.

But a separate benefit for the city is that all the revenue from inattentive driving citations would go toward the city, instead of partly going toward the state.

Orting officials expressed concern last week that citizens will think that money is the main drive behind the ordinance, rather than a desire to make roads safer.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Councilman Dick Ford. “The public needs to know it’s not intended as a revenue generator.”

Orting City Prosecutor Virginia Amato said that citizens stand to gain from the ordinance more than city officials.

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The community known for panoramic views, rows of homes and narrow streets has a beach-access issue brewing.

A group of Day Island neighbors are pushing University Place to trim shrubs and bushes, as well as improve a rock stairway at one of the few spots the public can access the beach.

Ernest Lackman, 85, says it's too dangerous for kids. The city doesn't properly maintain the area, but it doesn't let residents do so either.

"Would you like to bring your young children down here?" he asked last week while giving me a tour. "For them not to be able to use that access and waterfront, it's ridiculous really."

But Gary Cooper, UP's assistant community development director, says there's more to the story. The neighbors are the same group that paid for the tops of 21 trees to be cut so it wouldn't obstruct their view of Puget Sound.

The city cited them, saying they either had to pay $13,7000 or replant the trees. As the two sides have worked out the agreement, the neighbors are bringing up concerns of the beach access.

"Sometimes when people don’t get the answers they want, they find alternate ways to get it,” Cooper said.

I plan to write a story in the coming days about the issue.