The campaign, called "U Drive U Text U Pay," began Wednesday and will continue through August 15. It is the second statewide crackdown this year to fight distracted driving, which accounts for 3,400 deaths a year nationwide.
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State funding allows police departments to pay for extra traffic enforcement shifts during the zero-tolerance two-week period.
Authorities remind drivers that hand-held cell phones or mobile electronic devices may not be used while operating a motor vehicle in Connecticut.
The state has prohibited all drivers from using hand-held cell phones, though adult drivers are allowed to use hands-free cell phones.
Drivers under the age of 18, however, are prohibiting from using even hands-free phones. In addition, novice drivers are prohibited from using any other electronic device while behind the wheel.
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Texting while driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents, and as a result, all drivers -- including adult, novice and school bus drivers -- are prohibited from texting while driving.
School bus drivers are prohibited from using both hand-held and hands-free devices, except in emergencies.
And the crackdown isn't just for phone-related offenses. Putting on makeup, eating or even fiddling with the radio could all be grounds for a traffic stop.
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