Crime & Safety
Wilton Police Plan Distracted Driving Crackdown
The Wilton Police Department is one of three local departments planning an intensive crackdown on June 16.
Driving through Wilton better have all your attention come Monday — not that motorists shouldn't be paying attention everyday.
Wilton, New Canaan and Norwalk Police officers will join forces throughout the day Monday and intensify their efforts to target motorists who violate the state's distracted driving laws that were enacted last October.
New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski told New Canaan Patch that at least a dozen officers will be out on local roads throughout the day Monday, June 16. While the chief wouldn't specifically identify the locations, he did say officers will be stationed "in high traffic/high violation areas in each jurisdiction."
According to Krolikowski, "Intensive “zero tolerance” enforcement will occur in each jurisdiction. Motorists that are in violation of the law will be ticketed."
Krolikowski added, "This multi-agency traffic safety task force will crack down on motorists who text or use a hand-held cellphone while driving. This "high-visibility enforcement" is intended to call attention to a law that took effect Oct. 1. It allows reporting of distracted driving offenses to insurance companies and increases fines for texting and using hand-held phones while driving."
Fines are now $150 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. The increased fines were championed by state Rep. Fred Camillo of Old Greenwich (R-151). Camillo told the Greenwich Patch he was inspired to file his 2013 distracted driving bill after talking with a Norwalk woman whose boyfriend was killed by a driver allegedly checking her high school web site.
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