Distracted Driving Crackdown Underway In Concord, Police Say

CONCORD, CA — The Concord Police Department is conducting another distracted driving crackdown today — Tuesday, Feb. 19. Officers are focusing their efforts on drivers who are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cellphone law, according to a news release from Cpl. Kevin Mansourian of Concord PD's traffic unit.

A violation is subject to a $162 fine for the first offense, and at least $285 for a second offense, Mansourian said.

In a distracted driving enforcement campaign held Feb. 6 in the city, Concord police issued 33 citations— 20 of which were for distracted driving, Mansourian told Patch.

"Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior Concord Police Department is working to deter drivers from doing," Mansourian said.

Distracted driving comes in many forms, but cellphones remain the top distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The federal agency reported that 3,450 people were killed in 2016 because of distracted drivers.

A 2018 observational survey by Fresno State University and the California Office of Traffic Safety found nearly 5 percent of California drivers were using their phone illegally behind the wheel, either by talking on or using their phone without a hands-free device.

"Using the phone should be the last thing a driver should be focused on," said Concord police Sgt. Robert Garcia. "That text, phone call, email, picture, video or social media post can wait. None of these things are worth risking your life and the lives of other drivers and passengers over."

Although it is natural instinct to want to answer the phone or read a text, the focus for drivers should be on the road, Concord police said.

"If you have an important phone call or need to reprogram your navigation system, pull over to a safe parking place," police said. "To resist the urge of using your phone, either silence it or put it somewhere you can’t reach."

Other distractions include eating, grooming, talking to passengers, using GPS, adjusting the radio, taking off a jacket, or reaching for an object on the floor, according to Concord PD.

Funding for Tuesday's distracted driving enforcement operation is provided by a grant from the California OTS through the NHTSA.

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