John M. Coyne

Who was John M. Coyne?

John M. Coyne Sr. was the mayor of Brooklyn, Ohio from 1948 to 1999, the longest consecutive term of any mayor in United States history. Coyne continued to reside in the city. He was reportedly responsible for the country's first seat belt and mobile phone laws for motorists, 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."

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