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As a part of the texting crackdown in which the city is participating, patrol officers were on a heightened alert for anyone using a cellphone between Oct. 9 to Oct. 16.
Over the course of the wee, officers issued 544 infraction tickets and arrests.
Here are the final results from the week:
- Cellphone Infractions: 278
- Texting Infractions: 145
- Distracted Driving Infraction: 1
- Seat Belt Infractions: 26
- Child Restraint Infraction: 1
- Fugitive Apprehended: 8
- Suspended License: 4
- Speeding: 1
- Narcotics Violations: 2
- Other Traffic Violations: 53
- Traffic Signal Infractions: 5
- Uninsured Motorist: 1
- Vehicle Equipment Violations: 10
- Unregistered Motor Vehicle: 9
Danbury is one of many communities cracking down on texting while driving after the state strengthened its distracted driving laws as of Oct. 1. Distracted driving offenses can now be reported to insurance companies, and the state increased the fines for texting and using hand-held phones while driving.
The fines now range from $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second offense and $500 for each subsequent offense.
The use of a cellphone without a hands-free device was made illegal in 2005 in Connecticut.
The Danbury Police Department reminds residents that any time you are operating a motor vehicle, you cannot have a cellphone in your hand. This also applies to be stopped at a red light or stop sign, police said.
"Remember: While driving, phone in one hand, ticket in the other," police said in the statement.
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