NYPD Cracks Down On Cell Phone Use While Driving Today

The NYPD is almost halfway through its 24-hour crackdown (it started at midnight) on drivers who are using cell phones. Here's what NY's Finest had to say about the effort:

Tuesday’s initiative is part of the NYPD’s focus on traffic infractions linked to death and injury.

The NYPD reminds all New Yorkers that the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving a vehicle is illegal. In addition, driving while texting or talking on a cell phone is dangerous and endangers both drivers and pedestrians.

Individuals using hand-held cell phones while driving in New York City face a fine of $100. Drivers will also receive 2 penalty points on their license as a result of a new law which went into effect on February 16, 2011 prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. During 2010, the NYPD issued on average 611 summonses a day to drivers using hand-held cell phones.

Last fall, a texting teen driver critically injured a delivery man in Brooklyn. The delivery man later died and the driver was charged with negligent homicide.

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By Jen Chung in News on March 15, 2011 11:29 AM

Comments [rss]

mistermarkdavis

I was talking home today and saw a car blow through a stop sign, through a crosswalk while talking on his cellphone.

purp

If all the cops are out looking for drivers, who's ticketing the cyclists?!

TeddyNYC

A few hours ago, I was walking on Court St. in Cobble Hill when I saw a police car with flashing lights getting close. The cops were following a white BMW SUV and I noticed that the driver was talking on his phone when he passed me by. He pulled over to get his ticket.

Stiff01

Good They should . Just do it all year round ! Everyday I want to see some dumb ass driver getting a fat ticket for this . Enough is enough to many accidents are being caused because some doofus behind the wheel can't apply commonsense and not use a hand held while operating the vehicle .

schmeep

This is a crackdown on people who use cellphones but don't access news on a daily basis.

Rocknrope

Now here's a crackdown I can get behind. I've encountered a lot of retarded driving lately, and when I drive up alongside to get a look at the idiot's face, sure enough they've got a phone in their hand.