It’s been one month since Michigan’s new ban on holding a cell phone while driving took effect. Berrien County Undersheriff Chuck Heit tells us the department has been enforcing the rule, but that’s not the only goal.
“We’re trying to educate people about it through media coverage and the like to make sure people are aware of the law,” Heit said. “We have written five citations for it, and that’s just the sheriff’s office. The other local agencies may be doing so, too. We’re just trying to be proactive, keeping people safe and not distracted while driving.”
Heit says the new ban is one more way to ensure people don’t drive distracted, and it is important people understand it. Michigan State Police First Lieutenant DuWayne Robinson agrees, telling us state police have issued more warnings than tickets for violations.
“It is clear that we are issuing way more verbal warnings than we are issuing tickets,” Robinson said. “This is not a surprise at all because, first and foremost, our job is to educate the public about traffic violations.”
Robinson couldn’t tell us how many tickets state police in southwest Michigan have written due to the new law, but said they have written some. Holding a phone while driving is a primary offense, meaning they can pull you over just for that. Violations of the new law will result in a $100 fine for the first offense and $250 for subsequent offenses. A driver with multiple violations could also be required to take a driving safety course.
