Police In Old Town, Maine Stop 33 Motorists For Distracted Driving Recently

It's no secret that despite the State of Maine passing a "Distracted Driver" law in 2019, people are still putting themselves and others at risk by using things like cell phones and tablets while operating motor vehicles.

We all see it, every day.

The Old Town Police Department decided that with the help of some grant money provided by the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety, they would shed some light on just how prevalent of a problem "Distracted Driving" has become in their community.

They conducted a traffic detail recently, specifically targeted to catch those not following the law. According to a post they put up on their Facebook Page earlier this week, what they found was a disturbing trend of folks just not paying attention to the rules.

"Officers focused specifically on violations involving the use of electronic devices while driving. During this initiative, 33 traffic stops were made for individuals seen using handheld electronic devices while operating their vehicles, resulting in several tickets being issued."

Unfortunately, the problem is not just in the Old Town community, but all across the state.

A few years back, the folks at the Holden Police Department issued a similar warning to motorists after issuing almost 250 citations for distracted driving in just 9 months.
Read More: Holden PD Urges Drivers To Stop Texting-Issued 238 Tickets So Far

According to Maine Law, 'Distracted Driving' is defined as "operating a motor vehicle while engaging in an activity that is not necessary to the operation of the vehicle and that actually impairs, or would reasonably be expected to impair, the ability of the person to safely operate the vehicle.”

Maine citizens are prohibited from operating a vehicle on a public roadway "while using, manipulating, talking into or otherwise interacting with a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone."

It also states that drivers are not allowed to text (read or manually compose) a message using their phone or send emails.

If they're caught doing so, there's a pretty hefty price to pay, even for a first-time offense.

"Penalties for its violation can include a fine of not less than $250 for a first offense and a minimum 30-day license suspension for repeat offenders."

Some would argue that while the monetary penalty is steep for such an offense, the possibility of hurting to killing yourself or someone else is even more costly.

Old Town Police are calling for residents and Mainers in general to work harder to give their full attention to the road while behind the wheel.

"When driving, your attention must be on the road. No text, call, or social media scroll is worth risking your safety and the safety of others. Let’s all strive to do better, break this habit, and simply focus on driving."