Distracting Driving Enforcement Results: Wallingford Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — The Wallingford Police Department issued nearly 400 infractions during the first part of its 2018 campaign against distracted driving. Between April 2 and April 30, the Wallingford Police Department participated in a State of Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign. Read more from the Wallingford Police Department below:

Funding was made available to support overtime allowing Wallingford Police Officers to specifically dedicate their efforts to enforce distracted driving violations. Offenders were cited for using cellphones to engage in, among other things, conversation, texting, emailing, Facebook activities, surfing the internet, scrolling through music, and hand-held GPS navigation, all while operating their vehicle. Activities such as these distract drivers from the important task of safely operating their vehicles by taking their eyes off the road, leading to a high number of crashes.

While working specifically on this grant, Wallingford Police Officers issued 396 infractions and/or summonses, of which, 315 operators were cited for cellular phone and/or texting type violations. Another 81 offenses were cited, to include; D.U.I, miscellaneous drug offenses, misuse of marker plates, operating motor vehicles with a suspended license, stop sign violations, seatbelt violations, and outstanding arrest warrants, among other issues.

Although this grant has supplemented the Wallingford Police Department’s efforts in distracted driving enforcement, as we always have, we will put forth a continual dogged effort to make Wallingford roadways safer.

“We encourage those who are driving through our community not to text while driving and to use the appropriate hands-free device to conduct conversations while operating a motor vehicle,” Police Chief William Wright said. “As evidenced by the dedication that our officers put forth in this latest initiative, and from the sheer number of violations of this most recent campaign, we are once-again reminded that our distracted driving countermeasures need to continue in order to provide our community with the safest travel experience possible.”

To sign up for Wallingford breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Image via Shutterstock