Redwood City Distracted Driving Patrols Underway This Week

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Redwood City police officers will be out on the roads through the week for a special enforcement operation targeting drivers who break California's hands-free cell phone laws.

The law forbids drivers from holding a phone or other electronic communications device while they are operating a vehicle, including for calls, texts or apps. Offenses are punishable by a fine, and further violations within three years will add points to a driver's record.

"A driver's focus should be on the road, not their phone," said Richard Santiago, a sergeant in the police department's traffic division. "That text, phone call, email or social media post is not worth the risk to yourself and other people on the road."

Police recommend drivers who need to make an important phone call or program directions pull over where it is safe and keep their phone out of reach while driving.

The hands-free emphasis patrols began Monday and will continue through April 10.