John M. Coyne Explained

John M. Coyne
Office1:Mayor of Brooklyn, Ohio
Term Start1:1948
Term End1:1999
Party:Democratic Party
Office2:Treasurer of Brooklyn, Ohio
Term Start2:1944
Term End2:1946
Birth Date:11 November 1916
Birth Place:Brooklyn, Ohio, U.S.
Death Place:Brooklyn, Ohio, U.S.
Spouse:Ruth Coyne (deceased)

John M. Coyne Sr. (November 11, 1916 – July 21, 2014) was the mayor of Brooklyn, Ohio from 1948 to 1999. Coyne held the record for the longest consecutive term of any mayor in United States at the time he left office. Coyne continued to reside in the city. He was reportedly responsible for the country's first seat belt (in 1966)[1] and mobile phone laws for motorists,[2] bringing notoriety to Brooklyn. In Brooklyn, police stopped 150 cars the first six months of the ordinance, letting drivers off with warnings. After that, minimal fines were imposed, with Coyne quoted as saying, "...because the worst thing you can do is give the impression that you're socking them for taxation."[2]

Coyne died in Brooklyn, Ohio from natural causes, aged 97.[3]

Awards and Distinctions

His awards include:

Other Achievements

Coyne pioneered legislation positioning Brooklyn, Ohio as the vanguard of public safety initiatives: the 1998 cell phone law restricted use of hand-held cell phones while driving. His 1989 Assault Weapons Ban and Mandatory Waiting Period laws prohibited the possession of certain assault weapons and mandated a ten-day waiting period for gun sale transactions.

Legacy

Coyne has a recreation center in his name, the "John M. Coyne Recreation Center," located in Brooklyn, Ohio.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cleveland suburb on the right track with a ban on cell phone use in car - Atlanta Business Chronicle . Atlanta.bizjournals.com . 1999-10-18 . 2013-05-07.
  2. Web site: agency Associated Press . Phoning While Driving Is Curbed in Ohio Town . Los Angeles Times. 1999-03-30 . 2013-05-07.
  3. Web site: John M. Coyne, Sr., Brooklyn mayor for 52 years: Obituary. Cleveland.com. July 22, 2014.