The Clallam and Jefferson County Target Zero Task Force is participating in a statewide effort to crackdown on distracted driving.
Extra patrols from the Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend police departments, as well as Jefferson and Clallam county sheriff’s offices in coordination with the State Patrol will scan for infractions until Saturday, April 14.
The initiative issued by the state Traffic Safety Commission began Monday.
“Our goal is to raise public awareness about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Jim Borte, Clallam Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
“Research shows that drivers are three times more likely to crash when talking on the phone, and 23 times more likely to crash when entering information into their phone,” Borte said.
Statewide, more than 150 law enforcement agencies are searching for distracted drivers.
Per the new “Driving Under the Influence of Electronics” — or E-DUI — law, drivers are not permitted to hold cellphones or watch videos while they are driving, stopped in traffic or at a stop light, the traffic commission said in a news release.
The law restricts hands-free use to a single touch on hand-held electronic devices.
Restricted devices include — but are not limited to — tablets and laptops.
The first E-DUI ticket will cost drivers $136 and — if incurred within the next five years — a second ticket’s fine increases to $234.
Since the law’s inception, nearly 1,500 drivers have been ticketed with E-DUI infractions each month, the traffic commission reported in the release.
The traffic commission is the state’s designated highway safety office that coordinates with other state and local public agencies to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries, according to the release.
For more information about the Target Zero Plan, visit www.targetzero.com.
