POLAND, Ohio - Poland Village Council members passed an ordinance that would generate revenue for the village by adapting Ohio's new texting and driving law into a local ordinance. 

During Tuesday night's council meeting, members voted to establish an ordinance that will allow the village to keep money from fines paid by drivers who were cited for texting and driving in the village, instead of that money going to the state. 

When Ohio passed its texting and driving ban in April, it included language that allows for municipalities to pass local ordinances that are "substantially equivalent", or the same, as the state law. 

"Everywhere you go, up and down the street, everyone is always texting and driving," said Poland Mayor Tim Sicafuse to 21 News. "When it comes to the history of local government, the funds keep shrinking. Every year they take away our state taxes and local government money has been disappearing. So, every time we have an opportunity to keep money in-house, we strive to do that. It makes sense to help us."

This means that any political subdivision of the state like cities and villages can adopt this ordinance and keep money earned through fines given to drivers for texting and driving in their communities. 

When an officer tickets a driver, they can cite them for violating the local ordinance instead of the state law, and the money would stay in the local community instead of going to the state. The first violation of using your phone with cost you $150.

Mayor Sicafuse said those dollars would go toward the village's general fund and back to the police department.

"We just got body cameras," Sicafuse added. "We're always looking for training or other things that we need to operate at peak efficiency to keep our community safe."

While Poland Village council members passed a local ordinance Tuesday evening, other areas around the Valley were unaware that their communities could be generating revenue through this new law. 

Townships are left out of this option as they can't enact a similar ordinance.

21 News reached out to several local governments to ask if they knew about this option, or if they were planning to implement it, but most were unaware that they could benefit from the state law. 

Struthers Mayor Cat Miller says that the city was unaware of the option, but now that they are aware they plan to bring it to council. 

Poland council also approved a $500 holiday bonus for most full-time village police officers for picking up extra shifts due to understaffing. Part-time officers and a recently hired full-time officer were given $250 each.