If you use your phone while you drive, be aware, Tucson Police officers will pull you over if they catch you, even if you don't violate any other rules.
Distracted driving became a primary offense in February, and during the first two months of enforcement, TPD officers issued 735 citations to violators, according ot public records.
Here's the breakdown:
- 650 Civil Traffic Citations
- 37 Criminal Traffic Citations
- 3 Criminal Citations
- 45 Civil Infraction Citations
On top of that, officers issued 275 warnings to drivers.
Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik believes the ordinance enforcement is going well.
'I'm glad that we have it in place, it's now a functional tool for the police to work with," he said.
However, he says there are still people out there who ignore the rules, and are putting others on the road at risk.
"People still need to get a revelation that it's simply not safe to use your phone while driving," Kozachik said. "It still makes me crazy though because every time I'm out, whether I'm driving walking, running, on my bike, I'm still seeing people on their cell phones."
The ordinance states fines for civil violations go as follows:
- $50 for the first time
- $100 for the second time
- $200 for any subsequent violations
If the driver is involved in an accident, they'll face a $250 fine, regardless of if they've been ticketed before.
