1-Day, Distracted-Driving Crackdown Set This Week: Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The Orange County Sheriff's Department will focus on distracted drivers this week in a one-day operation seeking to curb motorists who talk and text in violation of California's cell-phone laws — or those who eat, groom or fiddle with their GPS systems.

"On Thursday, Sept. 17, deputies will focus their efforts on drivers that are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cell phone law," the agency said.

Violations can start at $162 fines for first offenses and climb to at least $285 for a second offense, deputies said.

"Distracted driving comes in many forms, but cell phones remain the top distraction," the department said, adding that nearly 5 percent of California drivers illegally use their phones, according to a 2018 observational survey by Fresno State and the California Office of Traffic Safety.

"In this day and age, it is natural instinct to answer the phone or read a text, but the focus for drivers should be on the road," deputies said. "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."

Drivers are reminded to pull over to safe spots if they have to answer important phone calls, check texts or need to reprogram navigation systems. If the temptation to use a phone while driving is too great, motorists are advised to silence the devices or stash them out-of-reach, officials said.

The distracted-driving operation is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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