Most dialed in on cell law

Officers pleased by compliance so far

By EMILIE RAGUSO
eraguso@modbee.com

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Some local officers are having trouble enforcing the new law prohibiting hand-held cell phone use by drivers.

"We didn't write any tickets Tuesday," said Sgt. Jay Struble with the Merced Police Department. "I know one of my guys was trying to find someone to stop, and he couldn't find anybody."

Officers in Stanislaus and Merced counties said, overall, drivers are following the rule restricting cell phone use while driving.

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But Oakdale police officer Ben Savage said he wrote five tickets Tuesday.

"It started right off the bat at 7 a.m., when I started my shift," Savage said. "The first lady, she knew about the law but forgot what day it was. She had all her stuff at home."

Savage said he had considered giving warnings if drivers legitimately did not know about the law, but everyone he stopped seemed informed, he said.

"They knew about it. They all admitted to it," he said. "There was no negative attitude. They were about as receptive as you can be for getting a ticket."

The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department and the Escalon Police Department issued one citation each. Livingston police issued four.

Modesto police Lt. Chris Fuzie said officers stopped only a couple of people, but wrote no tickets.

"I personally stopped one person," Fuzie said. "She wasn't sure when the law went into effect. She said she had been out of state. It was pretty quiet, really."

Fuzie said he noticed many drivers using hands-free devices to talk on phones. He credited media coverage and highway signs with informing drivers about the law.

"I think people are going to realize that, with the headsets, it's easier to drive and you can still accomplish everything. You can still talk on the phone," Fuzie said. "We'll probably continue to have good success with it."

Turlock police issued two citations and one warning related to cell phone use while driving from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, said Capt. Mike Langston.

"When I was out, I definitely noticed a difference," he said. "Before, everybody had a phone up to their ear. I started looking around yesterday and they were definitely not openly chatting on their phones. Of course, I was in a black and white (patrol car) with an officer."

California Highway Patrol officer Tom Killian said the Stanislaus County CHP office issued fewer than a dozen citations Tuesday.

"I have really been surprised about the compliance I've seen," he said. "Usually, prior to July 1, going down the highway I was seeing people on cell phones quite frequently. Yesterday, I had to hunt for violations."

Struble, of the Merced Police Department, said his officers are planning a special enforcement effort in the next month or so to target drivers using hand-held cell phones.

"When everybody forgets about it, we'll go out and remind them," he said. "It seems like people are being fairly compliant with it right now. Time will tell what's going to happen."

Bee staff writer Emilie Raguso can be reached at eraguso@modbee.com or 578-2235.