Texting-And-Driving Crackdown Begins In Vernon

VERNON, CT — The Vernon Police Department, along with Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office, kicked off the latest wave of the "U DRIVE.UTEXT.UPAY" campaign Thursday.

The October initiative is an effort to crackdown on motorists who "choose to text, talk, or otherwise distract themselves from the task of driving by using a hand-held mobile phone."

Vernon police are participating in the campaign by adding special patrols aimed at catching distracted drivers — especially those on their phones.

The effort is part of a larger campaign sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Under Connecticut's cell phone and texting law, violations involve fines ranging from $150 for a first offense, to $300 for a second violation, and to $500 for each subsequent violation.