Police Cracking Down on Drivers Who Talk and Text

If you didn't already know using a cell phone while driving is a bad idea, an upcoming wave of increased enforcement may be enough to change your mind.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office announced a new wave of crackdowns in Newtown and surrounding towns Monday, scheduled to run Thursday, June 20 through Wednesday, June 26.

"The message will be simple and straight: If you are illegally texting or using your mobile phone while operating an automobile you will be ticketed," said officials.

Aside from Newtown, the enforcement waves include Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Ridgefield, Redding and Monroe. The program is an expansion of a citywide project started in Hartford in 2010, which transportation officials say showed a 57 percent drop in cell phone use and nearly 75 percent drop in texting. Newtown Police are participating in the program as a regional team unit.

"Distracted driving, especially the use of a cell phone or other electronic device, is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel," said Department of Transportation Commissioner James Redeker. "Roving patrols will be out in force throughout several Connecticut communities during these periods, in an effort to stress Connecticut’s zero tolerance for distracted drivers."

Talking or texting while driving can come with heavy fines under Connecticut law: $125 on the first offense, $250 on the second, and $400 for each violation after that.