Stolen Vehicle Recovered During Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — The Hamden Police Department issued more than 700 total infractions during the recent Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement Campaign, which was held in conjunction with the state Department of Transportation. The campaign was an effort to deter motorists from texting and/or talking on their cellular telephones while driving.

Hamden Police participated in the campaign between Aug. 2 and Aug. 16. Officers conducted enforcement at various locations, including Dixwell Avenue, Whitney Avenue and State Street.

The results of the enforcement campaign are as follows:

• 685 infractions were issued for cellular telephone use/distracted driving
• 6 infractions were issued for driving without a license
• 4 infractions were issued for operating an unregistered motor vehicle
• 3 infractions were issued for failure to wear a seatbelt
• 1 infraction was issued for passing on the right
• 1 infraction was issued for failure to drive in proper lane
• 1 infraction was issued for failure to carry an insurance card
• 1 infraction was issued for possession of marijuana

A total of 702 infractions were issued.

In addition, Hamden Police issued five misdemeanor summonses for various motor vehicle violations. Officers also arrested three individuals on outstanding arrest warrants. Furthermore, a stolen motor vehicle was recovered, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

“I applaud the fine work of our personnel who engaged in the recently concluded distracted driving enforcement program,” Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra said in a statement. “The extraordinary amount of infraction tickets issued for distracted driving during this campaign reveals what continues to be a significant problem across our society. Personnel assigned to this program were limited merely by the time it took to write tickets, and not by the amount of distracted driving violations observed.”

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