Beginning Thursday, August 20 at midnight, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) will begin a citywide crackdown on the illegal use of cell phones behind the wheel.
The 24-hour initiative is part of the agency’s focus on traffic infractions linked to death and injury and will serve as a reminder to New Yorkers that the use of hand-held cell phones while driving is dangerous and carries a $130 fine.
A similar initiative on March 12, 2009 resulted in nearly 8,800 summonses, and in 2008, the NYPD issued an average of 536 summonses a day to drivers using cell phones.
In a news release, the agency underscored the importance of safe driving practices, such as the use of seatbelts and hands-free devices for cell phone calls from the driver’s seat.
