Police Cracking Down on Cell Phone Violations

Police are sending a message to motorists using a cell phone while driving, but it’s not coming by text or email. It’s being hand delivered in the form of a $100 ticket, or more for secondary offenses.

The issued 21 tickets for cell phone violations late last week and Sgt. Lowell DePalma warns that there could be many more to follow if drivers choose to ignore the state’s cell phone ban while driving.

“It’s about safety and getting people to not drive distracted,” DePalma said. “Distracted driving continues to be the leading cause for accidents across the state.”

The department is entering it’s annual and officers will be on roads across town looking for both distracted drivers and those not wearing their seatbelts while driving. The measure is part of an effort to crack down and prevent tragedies before they happen, especially with more people taking to the roads as the holiday season in Connecticut.

If you don’t follow the laws, it could be costly. The state’s general statutes changed on Oct. 1, 2010, effectively increasing fines for cell phone violations. A first offense now carries a $100 fine, second offenses carry a $150 fine and any subsequent offense will cost motorists $200.

According to state laws, drivers under the age of 18 aren't allowed to use cell phones, including the hands-free type or any mobile electronic devices of any kind while driving. Motorists over 18 are only allowed to use hands-free devices while driving and talking on a cell phone.

Text messaging and checking emails are not allowed and the only exception to talking is while calling for an ambulance or law enforcement agency.

The Click-It or Ticket enforcement will include both checkpoints and roving patrols, DePalma said, and will continue through Nov. 21. Additional patrols may be used during the holidays, he said.