Local law enforcement agencies crack down on distracted driving during monthlong enforcement operation
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Law enforcement agencies throughout the Central Coast are cracking down on distracted driving in April during a month long enforcement operation.
The enforcement is part of the annual national Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign that is held each year to help reduce the dangerous driving habit.
"We're out there," said California Highway Patrol Officer Maria Barriga. "Our eyes are open. We're trying to catch anybody before they hurt anybody else. The main point that we want to make and that we want to put out there is, if you're driving, concentrate on driving. Our lives depend on it, and your life depends on it and the lives of the people that are driving around you depend on it."
Throughout April, agencies such as the Santa Maria Police Department, will be have officers on patrol who are actively looking for drivers in violation of the state’s hands-free cell phone law.
"The purpose of the distracted driving campaign for the month of April is to prevent people from being distracted, and then crashing into other people," said Santa Maria Police Officer Dustin Rhoads. "It's basically a public safety thing because when you're driving several ton vehicle, you should be focused on the roadway instead of what's in your hand."
California law states that drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. The law also applies to drivers who are stopped at a red light.
"It's distracted driving," said Rhoads. "If you're sitting at a stoplight, and you're waiting for the light to turn, and you're just looking down, holding your phone, texting or scrolling the internet or whatever you're doing, that's a violation because technically you're in transit."
To help reduce the amount of distracted drivers on roadways, several local law enforcement agencies, including the Santa Maria Police Department are holding a special enforcement operation this month that is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"They give us extra grant dollars to do extra enforcement. and so generally, it's four hour shifts with, the Santa Maria traffic motor unit," said Rhoads. "We work our regular shift, and then we're allotted another four hours on top of that. We focus basically on distracted driving, texting while driving, and talking on your phone while driving."
Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine, and violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.
