Hands-Free Only Driving In This Get Tough On Phone HWY 101 Town

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police stopped dozens of drivers on Wednesday and ticketed 21 for violating California’s hands‑free cell phone law, part of a statewide effort to curb dangerous distracted driving and change risky behavior on the roads.

Officers with the Petaluma Police Department's traffic safety team pulled over motorists using phones behind the wheel during the enforcement operation, Sgt. Mario Giomi said, adding that despite repeated warnings, too many drivers still pick up their phones while driving.

California has banned handheld phone use for drivers since 2008, making it illegal to hold a phone to talk, text, or use apps while driving. A first offense can result in a fine, and a second offense within 36 months adds a point to a driver’s record.

Distracted driving — especially phone use — is more than a local nuisance. In 2023, roughly 8 percent of fatal wrecks and 13 percent of injury crashes that year were distraction-related, according to federal data.

Using a phone while driving continues to divert drivers’ eyes and attention from the road. Authorities estimate that crash risk increases by about 240 percent compared to attentive driving, based on analyses comparing drivers engaged with phones to those who are not.

In other words, according to authorities, drivers with important calls or looking for directions might help avoid some of the crashes that killed 3,275 people nationwide in 2023 by pulling over before using their phones.

Funding for the Petaluma operation came from grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reduce preventable crashes and save lives on California roads.