40 Citations Issued in One Day in Novato Distracted Driving Crackdown

NOVATO, CA- As a part of a distracted driving crackdown in Marin County, CHP and Novato police officers issued 40 tickets in just one day, officials said this week.

According to CHP Officer Andrew Barclay, on Wednesday the two agencies combined forces to conduct an enforcement operation throughout the city.

"Over the course of the day officers issued 40 citations to drivers who were caught using their mobile phones in a non-hands free capacity or texting while driving," Barclay said in a news release.

April 20 was a designated 'zero tolerance' day for distracted driving in the state, Barclay said. On that day, "...agencies throughout Marin County focused specifically on conducting enforcement of distracted driving violations including cell phone, texting, and other distractions which may cause a driver to take their focus away from the road."

Also that day, CHP officers say they caught an alleged drugged driver headed the wrong-way on Highway 101 near Novato.