Livermore PD Challenges Drivers to ‘Silence’ the Distraction

LIVERMORE, CA -- April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the Livermore Police Department is stopping drivers who violate California’s hands-free cell phone law.

During April, the Livermore Police Department has additional officers on patrol looking specifically for drivers on their phones.

Last year, LPD officers issued 646 citations to drivers texting, calling or performing another function on their phone according to police data. Also, according to data from the California Highway Patrol, 66 people were killed and more than 6,500 injured in 2017 from distracted driving-related crashes.

“That text or phone call will never be worth losing a life over,” Livermore Police Department Sgt. Glen Robbins said. “That is why curbing distracted driving is high on our priority list.”

Under the most recent cell phone law that went into effect in 2017, drivers are prohibited from having a phone in their hand for any reason and can only use their phone in a hands-free manner. The phones must be mounted on the dashboard, windshield or center console, and can only be touched once with the swipe or tap of a finger to activate or deactivate a function.

Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from any cell phone use while operating a vehicle. First-time offenders face a $162 fine.

If you need to make a call or text someone, pull over and park at a safe location. Struggling to stay off the phone while driving? Put your phone in a place you can’t reach, like the backseat or trunk. If your phone has a “Do Not Disturb” mode, consider activating it to automatically go to that function when your vehicle is in motion.