Framingham Police Launch Campaign To Catch and Fine Texting Drivers

Framingham Police Department will join more than 190 other Massachusetts law enforcement agencies in the national “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” campaign starting today, April 10.

“Driving and texting is illegal and irresponsible. People who break our state’s texting law will be stopped and fined. If you drive and text, you will pay,” said Framingham Police Lt. Stephen Cronin

The program is a mobilization to crack down on motorists who text while driving.

The campaign, which combines traditional and innovative enforcement strategies, is funded by a federal grant administered through the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

“It’s not that complicated: if you text and drive, we will see you, pull you over, and fine you. We’re serious about enforcing texting laws,” said Lt. Cronin

Texting while driving was outlawed in Massachusetts on September 30, 2010.

Adult drivers who write, send, or read electronic messages or browse the Internet, while driving face a $100 fine for a first offense – even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.

Juvenile operators are entirely prohibited from using mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving, including to make phone calls.

The fine for a juvenile first offense is $100 and includes a 60-day license suspension and required completion of a driver attitudinal course.

“Texting and driving requires motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. It creates the proverbial ‘perfect storm’ for a crash, and no one has the right to put another person’s life at risk like that,” said Framingham Police Chief Ken Ferguson

These costly violations underscore the danger inherent in the use of electronic devices while driving.

Nationally in 2013, there were 3,154 people killed and an estimated 424,000 people injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

• According to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute’s 2012 “Teen Driver Distraction Study,” 25% of teens respond to a text message at least once every time they drive.
  
• 20% of teens and 10% of parents admit that they have multi-message text conversations while driving