Crime & Safety

Suffolk Police to Target Cell Phone Violators

Week-long initiative is aimed at curtailing distracted driving.

Suffolk County Police announced that officers will conduct an enforcement initiative aimed at drivers who are violating the cell phone and texting laws on July 31 and will run through Aug. 6.

In a statement, the police department said the goal of this initiative is to change driver behavior regarding violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law as it pertains to the use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices and to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes resulting from these violations.

“Our officers will be on the lookout for distracted drivers, especially those using cell phones,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said in a statement.

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Officers from Patrol, in both marked and unmarked cars, Community Oriented Police Enforcement (COPE), and the Highway Patrol Bureau will be participating in the initiative, police said.

According to the county, drivers will face up to a $150 fine and three points on their license if found guilty of the offense.

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