Fla. city bans texting during meetings

After some questioned Commissioner Herb Zischkau's texting during a Deltona, Fla., meeting, officials implemented a ban on texting during public meetings to avoid illegal communication among members or the appearance of such, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Text messages have proved problematic for open records advocates. Most messages aren't archived and can only be retrieved within a few days via a subpoena, which usually takes longer than a few days to obtain.

Text messaging is an everyday habit for many, but if public officials use it to talk about public business, they could be violating the law.

It's a complaint throughout Florida: How do you make text messages a matter of public record if they disappear into thin air with the delete key?

One area city commission has this solution: a ban on texting during public meetings.

More here.