In early July, the Wilton Police Department began a “distracted driving” initiative that will run through July 19. Since Wilton police officers have stepped up their efforts targeting distracted driving infractions—especially cell phone usage—they report a significant number of stops and infractions.
Wilton PD public information officer Lt. Stephen Brennan said yesterday that between Monday, July 6 to Sunday, July 13, there were 56 stops for cell phone usage—33 of which the drivers received infractions, and the remainder were given written or verbal warnings. According to Brennan, it’s up to an officer’s discretion whether to write a ticket or give a warning in each situation.
“It could be the number of times the operator may have been driving distracted. We look at driving history, and we like to use progression. It’s not a punishment, but an education. We like to educate the driver so that you probably find more compliance in the future,” he said, adding behavior during the stop may be considered as well.
Officers are being assigned to specifically address distracted driving violations as well as looking for violations during routine patrol assignments. The violations include talking on a cell phone without using a hands free device, texting while driving and any other distractions that affect a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
Brennan added that this type of selective enforcement effort—where one particular driving behavior is targeted—is often less about writing tickets and more about contact with the public. “By making contact, you’re being visible, you’re educating the community and a lot of time you get feedback that the operator is happy you stopped them. And other drivers see it worked.”
