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Ridgefield Police Stop More Than 250 In Distracted-Driving Crackdown

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. – More than 250 traffic stops were made over the course of a week as the Ridgefield police participated in a countywide Distracted Driving Taskforce.

Of the 253 stops the Ridgefield Police Department made during the week long program 215 were cell phone related.

Of the 253 stops the Ridgefield Police Department made during the week long program 215 were cell phone related.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith, file photo

Ridgefield Police Capt. Bryan Terzian, said it was an interesting and rewarding experience. It’s a two-year program, he said, another weeklong crack down will take place in September.

The task force, made up of police from towns throughout Fairfield County and the State Police were part of a two county federal pilot program to determine how best to crack down on distracted driving - cell phone use in particular.

“Our guys are out there all the time enforcing the cel-l phone laws. The guys were very honored that they’re trying to adapt a national standard off of what we’re doing,” Terzian said.

Of the 253 stops most were cell-phone related. Terzian said that 171 were for people using their phone to make a call, another 44 were for texting. Among the other stops were 19 for seatbelt violations, three misdemeanors, five for speeding, four suspended licenses and two drug situations.

The department had to make use of some nontraditional methods in order to spot offenders. Terzian said that most days the department had a spotter out on the roads who would then report to squad cars about the infractions seen.

During a day he was on patrol, Terzian said that he had been approached by several residents asking what he was doing. After explaining he said that almost every resident said “Thank you” to him.

Among the stops made for cell-phone use was a bus driver who was transporting senior citizens around town. Terzian said that the driver had been texting.  One parent even thanked the department for giving their teenage driver a ticket for texting and driving. “We should all know better,” Terzian said.

Texting is now said to have the same level of distraction as driving under the influence, Terzian said. “At the end of the day it’s about changing people’s behavior and promoting a safer environment.”

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