EAST LANSING, Mich. — In an effort to keep drivers and pedestrians safe, the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) is teaming up with the Michigan State University Police Department (MSUPD) to expand upon its undercover enforcement of distracted driving.
ELPD launched a distracted driver initiative this past November, writing five tickets over two hours during the initial round of enforcement. ELPD has now partnered with MSUPD on the initiative and both departments went out this past Wednesday, Dec. 9 for a second round. Over four hours, 11 people were pulled over for distracted driving and received tickets. Total ticket costs for a first offense are $215 and a second offense is $310.
“This initiative has been successful due to the undercover aspect of the enforcement. Officers in plain clothes are out in unmarked cars looking for and taking video of these violations. When a violation is witnessed, a dedicated marked patrol car is called to make a traffic stop,” said ELPD Lt. Scott Wriggelsworth. “ELPD and MSUPD plan to continue this type of undercover enforcement from time to time in the future, with the hope that it will make people think twice before texting while driving in our community.”
“With everyone so connected to their phones these days, a serious accident is just waiting to happen and it could cost someone their life,” said Lt. Wriggelsworth. “We continue to see an uptick in the number of accidents related to texting while driving and that is why we are dedicated to this type of pro-active specialized enforcement. We are trying to prevent a tragedy from happening.”
View the Michigan law that prohibits texting while driving.