Point Pleasant Police Net 127 Violators In Latest Distracted Driving Campaign

POINT PLEASANT, NJ - Point Pleasant's recent U Drive. U Text. U Pay. distracted driving campaign paid off, Capt. Robert Lokerson said.

“Texting while driving is something we all know is wrong, but too many drivers are doing it anyway. So when we see it, we show zero tolerance,” said Capt. Robert Lokerson.

That zero tolerance translated into 127 citations issued during the recent enforcement period, he said.

“Distracted driving kills too many people for us to ignore the facts and pretend it’s okay—it is never acceptable to text and drive,” he said.

According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,477 people were killed nationwide, and another 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015.

The law provides that the use of a wireless telephone or electronic communication device by an operator of a moving motor vehicle on a public road or highway shall be unlawful except when the telephone is a hands-free wireless telephone or the electronic communication device is used hands-free, provided that its placement does not interfere with the operation of federally required safety equipment and the operator exercises a high degree of caution in the operation of the motor vehicle.

And just because the official campaign is over, the effort continues in Point Pleasant, no matter what time of year it is, Lokerson said.

"Offenders caught texting and driving will face serious consequences," he said. "Though the high-visibility enforcement effort is over, law enforcement officers will continue watching for distracted drivers to make sure all motorists keep their eyes on the road, and their hands on the wheel. Remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay."

For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov

Image: Patch file photo