41 people cited in one hour for using cellphones while driving in Torrance, police say

People in Torrance who talk on their cellphones while driving may want to rethink that idea after police there ticketed 41 drivers for allegedly talking on their cellphones over the span of an hour.

Officers from the Torrance Police Department's traffic and special events division set up an operation on Hawthorne Boulevard at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to stop drivers for talking or texting on their cellphones. The one-hour operation netted 41 violators, police said.

The operation was prompted, in part, by police officers' observations while on the road, said Sgt. Jeremiah Hart.

“We’re seeing this a lot. Let’s go out and do some education on this,” Hart said Thursday. “We’re trying to reduce distractions.”

One driver also was arrested for driving without a license, he said.

The total fine for a first cellphone violation is $142, including court fees and penalty assessments.

-- Raja Abdulrahim

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Comments

[Juan]

CHP needs to enforce click it or ticket and the cell phone law on LAPD.

[RabidinL.A.]

Yay and Bravo on a job well-done! I've been squawking about this since the law went into effect. Yep, like you say, RC, I see 10 - 15 people daily yacking it up, running stop signs in their attempt to run into me, my daughter almost hit on a daily basis walking home from school, all those zombies who can't drive to begin with making it worse with phone calls. The entire L.A. county should follow Torrance's cue and do the same. Fill those empty coffers with abusive cell phone users' fines!

[BJS]

Hey George,
The money raised in that hour doesn't even begin to cover the expense of the resources used on even ONE accident. And that is assuming everyone involved has insurance. Contrary to popular belief, cities do not profit from citations. But, the expendatures spent on wasted resources responding to accidents caused from drivers with their eyes everywhere excpt the road can be reduced. Very simple, if you don't like traffic fines...OBEY THE LAW! What a novel concept.

[dpw]

Bravo. It's outrageous how many people blatantly ignore this simple safety issue. Do more of these stings throughout the city and we won't have to layoff any police.

[Carol]

Yea!!! Finally some enforcement!!!!! Keep it up!!!!

[Christopher W.]

I wish they'd also do sweeps for:
1 - people that don't pull over for emergency vehicles,
2 - red light/stop sign violators,
Too many people driving around these days thinking that slow-and-roll = stop.

[Blenda M]

Not all people talking on the phone while driving are equal. Some just can't talk and drive, and some do just fine.

[Rodney M.]

Isn't the usual fine for texting/calling while driving $20? Anyway, I think imposing a larger fine would detract a greater number of "distracted drivers" from using a cellphone while operating a vehicle. While some people will see the enforcement of the texting while driving/talking on the phone while drving law as some unfair, cash-generating move on the part of the police, I think its about time they actually enforced it. Too many drivers, especially teens cause car accidents because their eyes are on their phones, not on the road.

[Samantha Rogers]

This may be the reason why the number of accidents remains high though using of cellphones is prohibited by the law. The problem is not the laws that were created, but the willingness of people to follow them. Laws will be useless if people ignore them and do negligent actions on the roads.

[Chris Morgan]

These laws only make a difference when enforced, otherwise people won't change behavior. It’s kind of like when seatbelt laws were first introduced. There are, however, technological responses to this: phone applications that turn off cell phones when the user is driving. These at least make it possible for parents and employers to have some enforcement over teenagers and employees. Check out the web for PhonEnforcer (free), ZoomSafer, or txtBlocker.

[Driver]

I wish they would do this to pedestrians who step out in front of my car all the time because they are gabbing on the phone or texting.