WSP Releases Stats On New Distracted Driving Law

BONNEY LAKE, WA - Consider this a warning: Washington's new distracted driving law went into effect two weeks ago, but police are generally giving drivers a six-month "grace period" to get used to the law. But that doesn't mean you can ignore it.

According to statistics released this week by Washington State Patrol, state police are indeed giving out tickets (first ticket: $136), plus verbal warnings, and written warnings. Here are the stats on infractions so during the first week of the law between July 23 - 29:

• Contacts 337
• Citations 27
• Written warnings 4
• Verbal warnings 306

But that's nothing compared to enforcement of the state's hands-free law (which the new distracted driving law replaced). Here's how enforcement shook out for all of 2016:

• Contacts 16,884
• Citations 7,941
• Written Warnings 114
• Verbal Warnings 8,805

That's the equivalent of about 21 tickets per day. So, perhaps use the grace period wisely.

"If troopers observe distracted driving violations coupled with other dangerous driving behaviors, or if you’ve already received a warning about the new law, you run the risk of getting a ticket," WSP spokesman Kyle Moore said.

Image via Kirkland police