2008 Woodie Awards
Cell Ban
Associated Press
Issue date: 2/9/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Think you won't get caught driving around with your hand-held cell phone?
Think again.
In the first three months of the new law that targets motorists who don't use hands-free sets, police around the state have written more than 2,400 tickets. The hot spot has been Bridgeport. Police there have handed out 289 citations, the most in the state.
"We take the enforcement of the cell phone law very seriously," Bridgeport Police Sgt. John Losak said. "Our officers see too many accidents resulting from distracted drivers, so the law was very welcome. I hope people think twice about driving through the city while talking on a cell phone."
Under the law, drivers who are at least 18 years old can use cell phones, but only with hands-free devices such as headsets. The law, which took effect Oct. 1, completely bans the use of cell phones by drivers under 18.
The state Judicial Branch said overall police issued 2,413 citations from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. Behind Bridgeport, the second most tickets were issued in Woodbridge police (211) followed by Greenwich (163) and Fairfield (151).
State police spokesman Sgt. J. Paul Vance said troopers are enforcing the law but are not being overzealous. There is still a "breaking-in" period under the new law.
"If we observe a blatant violation, that is one thing, but we also want to give people a chance to learn about the law," Vance said.
Police can write $100 tickets for violations. Motorists can avoid the fine by buying hands-free equipment within 30 days after being ticketed and showing the receipt to state prosecutors.
In its December 2005 report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said about 10 percent of the people on the road during the day are using cell phones, up from 8 percent in 2004. Six percent of those drivers were holding phones to their ears, up 5 percent from the previous year.
Currently, hand-held phones are banned in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
Stratford Police Spokesman Capt. Harvey Maxwell said he had early doubts about the ban but has changed his mind. "It got to where I couldn't go by a car where I didn't see someone on the cell phone. After seeing people roll through stop signs because they were on the phone I became a big supporter of the law," Maxwell said.
The law's chief sponsor, state Rep. Richard Roy said he's also pleased that he sees fewer drivers using hand-held phones.He said he's now seeing more hands-free devices.
"I'm looking probably more than other people at what is out there," Roy said. "Some people say it is their right to use and I respond that right ends 6 inches from my bumper."
Roy expects even more compliance after the state Department of Transportation erects signs at the borders notifying out-of-state motorists of the ban.
Think again.
In the first three months of the new law that targets motorists who don't use hands-free sets, police around the state have written more than 2,400 tickets. The hot spot has been Bridgeport. Police there have handed out 289 citations, the most in the state.
"We take the enforcement of the cell phone law very seriously," Bridgeport Police Sgt. John Losak said. "Our officers see too many accidents resulting from distracted drivers, so the law was very welcome. I hope people think twice about driving through the city while talking on a cell phone."
Under the law, drivers who are at least 18 years old can use cell phones, but only with hands-free devices such as headsets. The law, which took effect Oct. 1, completely bans the use of cell phones by drivers under 18.
The state Judicial Branch said overall police issued 2,413 citations from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. Behind Bridgeport, the second most tickets were issued in Woodbridge police (211) followed by Greenwich (163) and Fairfield (151).
State police spokesman Sgt. J. Paul Vance said troopers are enforcing the law but are not being overzealous. There is still a "breaking-in" period under the new law.
"If we observe a blatant violation, that is one thing, but we also want to give people a chance to learn about the law," Vance said.
Police can write $100 tickets for violations. Motorists can avoid the fine by buying hands-free equipment within 30 days after being ticketed and showing the receipt to state prosecutors.
In its December 2005 report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said about 10 percent of the people on the road during the day are using cell phones, up from 8 percent in 2004. Six percent of those drivers were holding phones to their ears, up 5 percent from the previous year.
Currently, hand-held phones are banned in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
Stratford Police Spokesman Capt. Harvey Maxwell said he had early doubts about the ban but has changed his mind. "It got to where I couldn't go by a car where I didn't see someone on the cell phone. After seeing people roll through stop signs because they were on the phone I became a big supporter of the law," Maxwell said.
The law's chief sponsor, state Rep. Richard Roy said he's also pleased that he sees fewer drivers using hand-held phones.He said he's now seeing more hands-free devices.
"I'm looking probably more than other people at what is out there," Roy said. "Some people say it is their right to use and I respond that right ends 6 inches from my bumper."
Roy expects even more compliance after the state Department of Transportation erects signs at the borders notifying out-of-state motorists of the ban.