Bend PD hand out 32 tickets during distracted driving enforcement

The Bend Police Department conducted a distracted driving enhanced enforcement in the downtown area from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The results of this detail were:

27 citations issued for illegal use of cellphones while driving

11 warnings issued for illegal use of cellphones while driving

5 citations issued for other violations not associated with cellphone usage

This detail was conducted in an effort to continue improving safety on the roadways in the city of Bend, Lt. Clint Burleigh said Friday.

Distracted driving is one of the top reasons for crashes nationwide. The law in Oregon regarding cellphone usage while driving has become more strict. A driver is not allowed to hold, manipulate, text or talk on a cellphone while the vehicle is being driven. This includes being stopped at a traffic control device. If a driver needs to use a cellphone while in their vehicle, the options are; use a Bluetooth device or stop the vehicle and park.

“The goal of the Bend Police Department is to reduce injuries and crashes throughout our community,” Burleigh wrote in a news release. “By enforcing the mobile device statute, we are attempting to reduce the amount of people driving distracted by using cellphone or mobile devices.”