×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Police Crack Down On Texting

Drivers near Benwood restaurants calling home or texting their offices  to ask people what they wanted for lunch Tuesday found themselves getting traffic tickets along with their burgers.

Benwood police officers set up along Marshall Street near the Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken businesses Tuesday to catch people using their cellphones while driving. The department had received two separate $500 state Highway Safety Grants for the month of August, according to Police Chief Frank Longwell.

The first was to pay officer overtime for cracking down on cellphone usage, while the second was for enforcing stop sign infractions. Officers could be seen in front of the restaurants from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., and Longwell said during that time they wrote as many as 12 tickets.

“There are a lot of restaurants in the area, and I believe people are texting home to ask what their family wants for dinner,” he said.

“We see a lot of cellphone usage (while driving) in that area.”

A text message sent from behind the wheel can cost a driver a lot of money.

The citation for a first offense is $100; for the second offense, $200; and for the third offense, $300, according to Longwell. Fines for stop sign violations, meanwhile, are set at $130.

The grants are given to police departments to focus on what infractions are most prevalent in their area.

“All departments in West Virginia are offered the grants,” he said. “Some participate, some don’t. We do. Our biggest problem here is cellphones and people texting while they drive.

“They’re all over the road. Fortunately, we haven’t had any crashes.

“I’ve been doing this for 32 years, and sometimes I will be following somebody and think I’ve really got an intoxicated driver. Then I’ll find out they were texting. At least a drunk driver can usually stay on the road,” Longwell     said.

Longwell said those walking along the road or even on sidewalks have to be careful because “people playing on their phones are not watching what they’re doing.”

“A telephone call or a text can’t be all that important. You’re putting somebody at deadly risk,” he said. “Even at 30-35 mph, you can run someone over and kill them.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today