Bridgeport CT – The Bridgeport Police Department handed out 1,002 tickets for driving while using a mobile phone in April as part of the statewide “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” enforcement campaign and National Distracted Driving Month.
Bridgeport Police joined officers from 50 towns and cities in Connecticut, plus state troopers, during phase 2 of U Drive/U Text/U Pay. The month-long program put additional law enforcement agents on the road to crack down on motorists who text, talk or otherwise distract themselves from driving by using a hand-held mobile phone.
“The Park City is dedicated to keeping Bridgeport kids and families safe and secure,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “We’re focused on building a city that is more walkable, which makes pedestrian safety an even greater priority for our city. That’s why the efforts of the Bridgeport Police Department to crack down on distracted drivers is so important. Thanks to the hardworking police officers for helping to make Bridgeport a safer, better place to live.”
Driver distraction is a contributing factor in many crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 3,154 people were killed and an additional 424,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2013 alone.
“When you text and drive, you are putting the lives of everyone around at you at risk,” said Police Chief Joseph Gaudett. “Thanks to great police work led by our traffic division, 1,002 drivers have learned that distracted driving is an issue our city takes seriously.”
Under Connecticut’s cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation, and $500 for each subsequent violation.
In addition to the 1,002 tickets for distracted driving, there were 155 other violations including 46 persons charged with unlicensed operation.
During phase 1 of “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” in September 2014, police from around the state gave out more than 7,000 tickets. Bridgeport handed out the most, with more than 650 citations.