Police Nab Hundreds of Distracted Drivers in Newport

Newport Beach police ticketed 510 drivers in April for texting or talking on a cell phone, officials said.

The crackdown was part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, according to Kathy Lowe, police spokeswoman. The minimum penalty for texting or talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel is $164, police said.

"Our goal is to reduce the number of collisions involving distracted drivers, thereby increasing safety on our roadways," Lowe said.

According to police, nine people a day are killed and 1,060 are injured nationwide because of distracted driving. The Newport Beach Police Department will continue to focus on reducing the number of distracted drivers through education and enforcement, Lowe said.

The Newport Beach Police Department was one of 225 law-enforcement agencies to participate in the statewide awareness campaign.

Safe Driving Tips

• Turn off your phone or put it out of reach before starting the car. 
• Alert callers that you are unable to take calls when driving by changing your voice mail message. 
• Make it a point not to call or text anyone who may be driving, such as during their commute to and from work or school. This applies particularly to parents calling teen drivers. 
• If you do need to make an important call or respond to a text message, pull over to a safe place to do so. 
• Use common sense when you’re behind the wheel and focus on driving.

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