To stop texting while driving has long been a priority for Branford cops.
Over the Labor Day weekend, for example, police issued summonses to 13 motorists who used their phones while driving to either text or talk. All 13 must appear in court. They face fines starting at $150. Stopping drivers for illegally texting or talking on phones while driving is a daily reality in Branford.
Starting today Branford cops will intensify their efforts as they become part of a major state crackdown designed to stop texting while driving. The kick-off of the “Anti-Texting Enforcement Project,” starts today. Its motto is: “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.”
Local police across the state, along with the Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office, will engage in the program, one designed to enforce Connecticut’s tough law that prohibits motorists from texting and/or using hand-held cell phones when driving should be their primary task.
The crackdown will run from Sept. 3 to Sept. 24.
“We want you to know, if you choose to engage in this potentially deadly behavior there will be consequences in the form of a substantial fine,” said Police Chief Kevin Halloran. “Enforcement patrols will be out in force throughout Branford in an effort to stress Connecticut’s zero tolerance for distracted drivers.”
This new enforcement mobilization marks the first time the state has utilized dedicated federal funds meant to curb this type of unsafe driving conduct. Law enforcement patrols will target motorists who choose to ignore Connecticut’s hand held mobile phone ban. Under Connecticut’s cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation.
The State, through the Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office, was the only one in the nation to receive $2.3 million in federal Distracted Driving prevention funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Connecticut’s strong laws and policies aimed at keeping a driver’s eyes on the road and his or her hands on the wheel made the state eligible for this funding. Chief Halloran said the Branford Police received a grant for $11,325 to carry out this enforcement mobilization.
“Our goal will not only be to ticket motorists who disobey Connecticut Statute – we also hope to save lives by changing people’s behavior and deterring this all too common activity,” Halloran said.
While the focused enforcement mobilization will end on Sept. 24, many law enforcement agencies, including Branford’s, have indicated that enforcing Connecticut’s tough hand-held mobile phone ban remains a priority.
For more information about national distracted driving issues and a video, (see above) visit www.distraction.gov.
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I would like to applaud the Branford Police Department for this initiative, and the federal and state governments for supplying funds.
However, I would also like to suggest that police officers, although they are legally exempt from the ban on cellphone use while driving, refrain it as much as humanly possible. In my (admittedly anecdotal) observation while driving, cycling and walking all through the area, a statistically significant number of police officers are using cellphones while driving and as the case of the California deputy who recently killed a cyclist while typing on his in-car laptop computer shows, police officers are no better than the rest of us at managing distractions while driving.