Farmington Police Participate in Distracted Driving Campaign

The Farmington Police Department along with dozens of other law enforcement agencies throughout the state are participating it the U Drive. U Text. U Pay campaign to crackdown on distracted driving.

The effort is part of a large campaign sponsored by the National Traffic Safety Administration.

“Driving and texting is illegal and irresponsible. People who break our State’s texting law will be stopped and fined. If you drive and text, you will pay,” said Sgt. Jason Raines. For those who say that driving and texting is an epidemic, we believe enforcement of our hand-held mobile phone ban law is part of the cure.”

Under Connecticut’s cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation.

More from Farmington Police:

As many as 50 law enforcement agencies including state and local police will take part in the mobilization to enforce Connecticut’s tough law that prohibits motorists from texting and/or using hand-held cell phones while driving. The crackdown will span the entire month of April. During a similar, three week campaign last September, over 7,000 motorists received a citation for using their phone while driving.

In 2013, 3,154 people were killed and an estimated additional 424,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. According to a 2014 special article in the New England Journal of Medicine, the risk of a crash or near-crash among novice drivers increased with the performance of many secondary tasks, including texting and dialing cell phones.

Police will be keeping an especially close eye out for drivers who text and drive. “Texting and driving requires motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. It creates the proverbial ‘perfect storm’ for a crash, and no one has the right to put another person’s life at risk like that,” said Sgt. Jason Raines.

Connecticut remains the only state in the nation to receive special distracted driving prevention funds – the same funds that allow for special patrols to identify, stop and cite drivers who choose to ignore distracted driving laws. Over $4.6 million dollars has been awarded to the state over the last two years specifically – to fund campaigns like this one. Connecticut qualifies for this federal funding source through a mix of tough laws – and, a proven track record in strong enforcement of distracted driving laws.

“It’s not that complicated: if you text and drive, we will see you, pull you over, and fine you. We’re serious about enforcing texting laws,” said Sgt. Jason Raines.

For more information about national distracted driving issues, visit www/distraction.gov.