Members of the Board of Police Commissioners want police officers to issue more tickets to drivers who use their cell phones while driving.
“I want you to give them the word,” Howard Simpson, chairman of the commission, told police supervisors Thursday during a commission meeting.
Talking on the cell phone while operating a vehicle is illegal and results in a ticket, much like speeding. The commissioners told the officers there needs to be more enforcement to catch the cellphone users in the act.
“I saw (a number) of them on the way over here tonight,” Simpson said.
The monthly report of the patrol division showed three cell phone tickets were issued for the month. That’s not enough, the commissioners said.
“Every second or third car has a cell phone user,” Simpson said.
Lt. Paul Satkowski said part of the problem of enforcement is that when people with cell phones see a black and white police cruiser around them, they put the phones down.
“It’s different when you’re in a black and white,” Satkowski said after the meeting.
He promised to have the officers on patrol “be more vigilant” about cell phone abuse, though.
Commissioner Frank Conroy Jr. suggested putting a patrol car near a stop sign to watch for cell phone users. “I seem them every day, it’s there,” Conroy said of the cell phone abusers.
Talking on a cell phone while driving results in a $100 fine.
The law probating the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers became effective Oct. 1, 2005.
Ansonia police recently said they’re cracking down on cell phone offenders.
