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Mom Wants Phoning Drivers Busted

Isabelle Royce sees too many people talking on cell phones behind the wheel. "All the time, every day," said Royce, who visits New Canaan regularly to pick up her son at St. Luke's School or to take her dog for a walk at Spencer's Run in Waveny Park. "I see it all the time. Something needs to be done."

The New Canaan Police Department is indeed on the case, pulling over a couple of hundred motorists this month for distracted driving, especially phoning and texting. Sgt. Carol Ogrinc said so far this month police have stopped 235 drivers who have used cell phones while driving. This comes after town officials announced that officers will be more aggressive in stopping distracted drivers.

Ogrinc said officers pulled over 92 drivers last week. Of those, 54 were given infraction summons to pay a fine or to plead not guilty and appear in court. Thirty-six received verbal warnings, one received a written warning and another was ticketed for a misdemeanor, she said. In addition to stopping drivers, police still have electronic signs in place warning drivers to not use cell phones while driving. Police are not yet confiscating cell phones, something First Selectman Jeb Walker said he wants to look into.

Ogrinc said police are getting the message across, but it's too early to say how well the crackdown has worked since it's been in effect less than a month. "There's nothing to compare it to," she said. "You have to think some people are looking around more."

Royce applauds New Canaan's efforts. "It's a step. I would like a few more steps forward."

So would Margaret Augustine, also visiting Waveny Park on Monday. "It's really good," she said. "It's an important issue and it's in front of everyone's mind."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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