That text message can wait. Texting while driving is against the law because it is dangerous and deadly. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is targeting those who text and drive from now until April 12th.
The campaign is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration’s “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” effort. The high-visibility law enforcement is part of a national campaign.
St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King said, “People know texting and driving is dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway.”
King went on to say, “Deputies will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving. We are not trying to rack up citations, we are trying to save lives.”
Texting and driving took at least 70 lives in 2019 and resulted in 18,096 crashes.
It is against Michigan law to read, type, or even send a text message while driving unless it is for reporting a crash, crime, or in the case of an emergency.
The fine is $100 for the first offense and $200 for subsequent offenses.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
