San Diego.- San Diego area authorities cited more than 600 people during a three-day period last week for using their cell phones without hands-free devices writing, reading or texting on their cell phones.
California Highway Patrol officials on Tuesday announced the results of the "Hands Free is Ticket Free" campaign, which took place across San Diego County on Jan. 18 to 20 during a news briefing at the CHP's headquarters in San Diego.
Six local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's department, participated in the crackdown on distracted drivers and issued 593 citations for talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device such as an earpiece. Officers issued an additional 36 citations for texting or reading an electronic device while driving.
The CHP coordinated a similar crackdown in November that resulted in more than 1,000 citations, local CHP Assistant Chief Andy Sechrist said. He said he hopes motorists are becoming more aware of the dangers of distracted driving and the penalties attached.
"No phone call is worth a human life," he said.
Erratic driving is often one of the clues officers see before they determine that a driver is using a cell phone without a hands-free device, he said.
According to the National Safety Council, more than a quarter of car accidents are caused each year by drivers using cell phones or texting.
CHP officers said violators must usually pay a fine of $100, which includes court costs.
Leonel.sanchez@sandiegored.com
