Despite Warning, 78 West Bridgewater Drivers Stopped In Texting Sting
WEST BRIDGEWATER (CBS) -- Despite getting advanced notice about a texting sting operation, police say they stopped nearly 80 drivers on Route 106 in West Bridgewater on Wednesday.
Drivers were warned of the sting not only on the West Bridgewater police Facebook page, but also on electronic message board off Route 24.
Police said they stopped 78 drivers, and issued 34 citations during the three-hour sting.
They also issued one citation for criminal complaints.
"The amount of people we witnessed looking at their phones instead of looking up was shocking," police said on Facebook.
"School begins in just a few short days and there will be children in crosswalks everywhere. This has to stop."
Lt. Victor Flaherty told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe he's seen a lot in his years on the force, but this was a first.
"We actually had somebody riding a motorcycle texting," he says, "And he was viewing his Facebook page."
Flaherty says texting while driving is a serious issue, especially among young people.
"It takes the same amount of eyes off the road as if you're illegally intoxicated," he said. "Now we have people getting drinks and texting so we're getting a double hit here, which (is) causing horrific accidents."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports