NYPD Cell Phone Crackdown Beats August Ticket Blitz

Photo of 1969 car phone user courtesy Ericsson.

The 24-hour crackdown on drivers using handheld electronic devices ended last Friday at midnight with 7,529 tickets issued. That total edges out the number of tickets issued in August (7,432) but still falls short of the record 9,016 tickets written during the March sting. Is the NYPD phoning it in, or are New Yorkers getting the message?

On a typical day, the NYPD writes about 540 tickets to drivers using portable electronic devices while driving. According to City Room, last year a total 197,198 tickets were given to drivers for similar violations. The fine is $130 ($200 for cabbies), and starting November 1st, drivers can be fined $150 for text-messaging; though a ticket can only be issued as a secondary offense, when a driver gets pulled over for another violation.

Nevertheless, it looks like the NYPD is starting the text-message crackdown early; one driver told us he got ticketed for merely checking the time on his iPhone—while stopped at a red light!

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By John Del Signore in News on October 27, 2009 9:28 AM

Comments [rss]

Gwinny

was riding my bike up Madison last night when this woman in an SUV swerved out erratically from a side street. I caught up to her at the next light and yes, she was on a cell. I yelled "get off your cell!" at her and a lady and her kid on the sidewalk chimed in, "Hear hear!"

But she kept right on talking. Dumb bitch.

JacqueMehoff

drivers had warnings from the media about the crackdown.

it was all friggin over the news.

24 Hr. crackdown on cell phone use so don't do it for 24 hrs.

hotstepper

article synopsis:

for 24-hours police did their job. but now, it's over.

schadenfreudian mensch

So they can go back eating their donuts.

jibbly

Nice, at $130 a pop and 7,500 tickets issued they grossed nearly $1mm. Do that every day for a month in surprise locations and they won't need to cut late night and weekend mass transit services for the entire year.

Boogie Down

I'm a driver in NYC, and I agree with you.

Mr Mel

I was at the NW corner of 2nd Avenue & 42nd Street waiting for the light change, when it went red, a guy in a Mercedes went through the red light (well after the yellow)and was talking on his hand held phone at the same time. They didn't give out enough tickets and it should not be a once in a while thing but enforced with a vengeance every day.

Kojak

"one driver told us he got ticketed for merely checking the time on his iPhone—while stopped at a red light!"

Sucka. Put down your Jesus phone for Christ's sake. Last time I checked most cars have a clock on their Radios/Dashboards.

mocanlagunas

What? You don't need to know what time it is every 5 minutes?!?

schadenfreudian mensch

Yea, and then there's this brand new gizmo called a "watch" that you can wear on your wrist when you want to know what time it is. It's very convenient and come in various styles if you're that kind of person.