By Bill Lindelof
blindelof@sacbee.com
Police and the California Highway Patrol in the Sacramento area are dedicating two days this month to "zero tolerance" of cell phone use or texting while driving.
Anyone caught talking or texting on a cell phone that is not a hands free device Tuesday or Aug. 18 will be given a citation that carries a fine of up to $100, according to the CHP. (An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the effort would cover nine days.)
The CHP indicated that such enforcements may become an annual effort.
Cell phones are the leading cause of inattentive driver crashes in the state, the CHP said.
Since the start of the hands-free law two years ago more than 1,200 collisions have cell phones as a contributing factor.
Those collisions have resulted in 16 fatalities and 850 people injured.
Among the agencies participating in the crackdown are: the CHP and officers in the Sacramento, Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Roseville, Galt and Rancho Cordova police departments.
The July 1, 2008 law prohibits the use of handheld cell phones by all drivers. In addition, it forbids drivers under the age of 18 from using both handheld and hands free phones. Six months later, a ban on text messaging by drivers was put in place.
CHP officers have issued more than 244,000 citations for violation of the cell phone law.
Cell phone violations carry a minimum fine of $20 for the first offense and $50 for the second. When court costs and other fees are added, the total can exceed $100 for a first offense, the CHP said.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
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