Drivers in Glendale, keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, or be prepared to pay up. The Glendale Police Department, in their continuous battle against distracted driving, is ramping up enforcement operations to crack down on motorists flouting the hands-free cell phone law. According to the City of Glendale, California, drivers caught holding a phone or any electronic communications device while in control of a vehicle will face consequences ranging from fines to points on their driving record.
As part of the operation on April 9, Glendale’s finest were on the lookout for those talking or texting at the wheel, behaviors that Sgt. Ryan Gunn emphatically advises against, stating, “A driver’s focus should be on the road, not their phone,” and stressing the potential risks to all road users, as per the City of Glendale, California. Those inclined to disregard the law are reminded to pull over safely before making that crucial phone call or setting up navigation details, it's not just about avoiding fines, but also about safety, “That text, phone call, email or social media post is not worth the risk to yourself and other people on the road,” he remarked, so before you drive consider silencing your phone or storing it out of reach, this way you're not tempted to respond to any notifications popping up.
Mark your calendars because another day of reckoning is coming: the department has scheduled another distracted driving enforcement operation for April 12. These initiatives are not just a local endeavor; funding comes via a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, under the auspices of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – a nod to the seriousness with which distracted driving is regarded at both state and federal levels.
The over century-old Glendale Police Department boasts around 250 sworn officers and nearly 400 total employees, its top brass is committed to "providing the highest level of public safety services through proactive policing, professionalism, and community partnerships,"as reported by the City of Glendale, California. Their duties cover a vast array of responsibilities including, but not limited to 9-1-1 emergency responses, crime prevention, and community policing, if you're curious about their services or wish to receive updates, you can follow them on social media outlets such as Instagram at @GlendalePoliceDept and Facebook at @GlendalePD.
