Stockton police to go after drivers using hand-held cell phones

Stockton police will crack down on drivers who use hand-held cell phones over the next week and a half. The effort is a special federally funded pilot program using the region to test tactics that may be employed nationally in the future. Beginning November 30 and lasting through December 9, police will be out in force to issue tickets to drivers using hand-held cell phones or texting. It's part of a joint effort with California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the California Highway Patrol. "Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving on the streets of Stockton is dangerous to everyone on the roadways with them,” said Sgt. Lance Baur. "Officers will be out looking, and will be ticketing with zero tolerance." Drivers in Stockton talking on a hand-held cell phone or texting will receive a first-time ticket costing a minimum of $159, with a second offense costing $279. But the goal of the special enforcement operation is not to issue tickets, but to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Across the nation in 2010, 3,092 people were killed, and an estimated 416,000 others were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.