New York City police issued a whopping 9,016 tickets during a 24-hour crackdown on phoning-while-driving.
Department spokesman Paul Browne told CBS2 HD that compares to 500 on a typical day.
The ticket blitz ended Friday. But the law is still the law.
CBS 2 HD talked to some drivers on Thursday who got dialed up.
“I was on my way to a job site. I was kind of lost so I called my boss over at the job site and they caught me,” Mike Buonarobo said.
Buonarobo was one of the unlucky ones caught by the NYPD crackdown, and got a $120 lesson.
“They’re just doing their job, like I’m trying to do mine, or I was trying to do mine,” Buonarobo said.
So was another driver, who was talking to his company.
“I don’t make a habit of it. It was just one of those things that happened,” said Alec Shtromandel.
Those writing the tickets were making no apologies.
“Having one hand not on, you know, not on the wheel at any given time is dangerous,” NYPD Officer Eric Chaffer said. “Everybody does it but in this case it’s against the law.”
A law one mother, who was caught, said she’d flaunt again, if she had to.
“Had I known about the crackdown and had I seen my kid’s school calling, I would have picked up the phone regardless of the crackdown,” the woman said.
Using a phone without a “hands-free” device will get you a $120 fine, but the Police Department said the crackdown is about saving lives, not making money.
(Source: CBS2 HD)
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Saving lives AND making money.
“The Police Department said the crackdown is about saving lives, not making money.”
Yeah right, so skip the fine and give first time offenders a warning with no fine. One thing Bloomberg knows is how to make money!
I got two tickets yesterday for taking on the cell phone. For the same incident, from two different police, at the same time. They told me to take it up with the judge.
Just a chutzpah. They are desperate for money.
My father who does not own a cell phone got a ticket for talking while driving. He pleaded with them to search his car and see that he does not have a phone. The police officer just said ” I an not warrented to search ur car, but I saw…” Prove me wrong! These guys are impossible!!!
Sorry, I have no sympathy with all the people who were ticketed. Driving while speaking on a cell phone (even hands-free!) is very dangerous. People who do that are criminally negligent.
Just curious, have there been less car accidents since it became illegal to hold the cell phone? In my opinion those that wiil get into accidents will get into them regardless and vice versa.
STOP TALKING ON THE PHONE or pay the consequences.
You guys are all wrong – aside from nt following the law, driving with a handheld cell phone creates a sakanah. Stop complaining and focus on watching oiver not only your own life but those of your passengers and everyone you drive near. Stop being selfish.
Having narrowly escaped hazards caused by these commentators as they drive with contempt of their fellow human beings as pedestrians, I applaud this campaign.
If you can spend $120 to “flout” (not “flaunt”) the law, that is your achrayis. Just so, your children are learning to be the arrogant Yidden who piously say, they want Moshiach (but only on their terms).
It is outrageous that such people retain their drivers licenses. Are these also the people who blast their horns when traffic is backed up, or honk impatiently when an Access-A-Ride van is waiting for a passenger to board or leave?
Teshuvah—–now!
I got a ticket while talking on my blue tooth device. the officer told me that if i have a phone in my hand, he can give me a ticket. The truth is he wasnt supposed to give me a ticket. I spoke to a lawyer who advised me that if the ticket isnt a legit one, dont give your license or registration to the officer. Demand that a supervisor come down. if your not supposed to get a ticket the supervisor will usually let you go.
I bought (at Eichler’s of BP) a mirror mounted Bluetooth device. It’s a rear view mirror mounted onto the existing car mirror and it automatically picks up all my calls for a speaker phone conversation. It’s always on. It also has an ear piece that I could put into my ear for more private conversing if I need to be a little more discreet! It costs $130.00 and it’s great! No more tickets!