Drivers in Gilroy might want to think twice about texting or picking up a cell phone while on the road in the Garlic Capital.
Last week, the Gilroy Police Department announced that it will join more than 200 local law enforcement agencies in April for Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
The campaign involves a month-long zero tolerance enforcement and education effort to curb illegal texters and handheld cell phone use while driving offenders. Gilroy officers will be on alert for those who break the cell phone laws and place themselves and others in danger, police said. Special high visibility enforcement operations to cite cell phone violators will take place on April 11 and 19, police said.
The increased enforcement and education aims to persuade drivers to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of people impacted by this perilous behavior. The current minimum ticket cost is $161, with subsequent tickets costing at least $281.
“We take the issue of distracted driving very seriously,” said Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner in a press release. “Because we see the aftermath of these totally preventable crashes. Is that text message or cell phone call really worth $161, or worse, someone’s life?”
More information
For more information on the campaign, visit http://local.nixle.com/alert/5170958/.