The Washington State Patrol said Friday that it had written nearly 670 tickets in 20 days for drivers who were texting or talking on cell phones.
That number increased by at least one Friday, when State Patrol Chief John Batiste cited a driver near Joint Base Lewis- McChord.
“The fellow was just driving along talking on his phone,” Batiste said. “He was fully aware of the law and had no excuses.”
In Pierce and Thurston counties, troopers gave out a total of 77 tickets for cell phone violations and 10 for illegal texting. Drivers in King County accounted for 129 cell phone violations and 13 for illegal texting.
The state ban on texting or talking without a hands-free device while driving became a primary offense June 10.
That means police can pull drivers over just for violating the cell phone law. Before, drivers could get a ticket only after being pulled over for something else.
The State Patrol said the nearly 670 tickets were up from about 110 in the same period last year. Troopers also have given out about 500 warnings since the law changed.
Between 2006 and 2008 more than 3,000 drivers were involved in collisions while using hand-held wireless devices, the State Patrol said.
Batiste said he believes compliance with the law has increased since the violation became a primary offense, and that is making things easier for troopers.
“Those who continue to flout the law are now much easier to spot,” he said.
The Associated Press and staff report
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