WHPD Increasing Distracted Driving Enforcement

WEST HARTFORD, CT — If you're driving in West Hartford and still staring at your cell phone, be aware the West Hartford Police Department probably has its eyes on you.

And, also, be aware that the West Hartford Town Council has approved spending additional cash for them to help catch you, ticket you and, perhaps, save you and other motorists from a potentially catastrophic accident.

Earlier this month, the council voted 8-0 to officially appropriate federal grant dollars to support local police enforcement operations targeting distracted drivers.

According to the approved resolution, the grants total $63,414 and its part of the Federal Highway Safety Program. The town had to apply for the funding, something that was approved earlier this year.

The extra cash will help police conduct distracted driving enforcement until April 20, 2023.

"The goal of this program is to reduce fatalities and injuries resulting from crashes caused by driver distraction, especially those caused by handheld mobile phone use," wrote West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith to the council.

"This goal can be reached through increasing enforcement, especially high visibility enforcement of Connecticut’s handheld mobile phone ban for drivers in areas identified to have high rates of fatal and injury crashes."

He said local police will be able to conduct extra enforcement operations specifically targeting this aspect of traffic control.

For more information on the program, click on this link and scroll to page 487.