San Rafael Police Issue 254 Citations for Distracted Driving

During a month-long crackdown on distracted driving that's still underway, the San Rafael Police have issued 254 citations to drivers caught texting or operating hand-held cell phones. Last year, the San Rafael Police cited 75 people during a similar crackdown in the same time frame.

Two dates, April 3 and 16, were designated as statewide focused enforcement days. San Rafael officers cited 88 people on April 16.

In 2011, more than 3,300 people across the U.S. were killed in distracted driving crashes, according to the San Rafael Police.

Nearly 450,000 handheld cell phone and texting convictions were issued in 2012, with more than 57,000 tickets issued in April alone. The fine for a first time texting or hand-held cell phone violation is $159, with subsequent tickets costing $279.

Despite the laws and the fines that give them some teeth, texting and talking on a cell phone while driving shows no signs of subsiding. A study released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 69 percent of U.S. drivers say they talk on their cellphones and about one in three read or send texts or emails while driving.

According to the California Office of Traffic and Safety, cell phone use behind the wheel “can significantly reduce the brain functions needed for safe driving, sometimes up to 37 percent,” transforming good drivers into inattentive “zombies.”

To avoid a distracted driving ticket or a crash, the police issued these tips to drivers to: 

• Turn off your phone and/or put it out of reach while driving
• Include in your outgoing message that you can’t answer while you are driving
• Don’t call or text anyone at a time when you think they may be driving

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