BANGOR, Maine — City police are putting the hammer down on texting and driving after receiving a rash of recent complaints from citizens.
Lt. Bob Bishop said Friday that Chief Mark Hathaway, Deputy Chief Brad Johnston and Sgt. Tim Cotton are helping to spearhead the effort.
“We’re getting a lot of complaints now, distracted driving texting problems,” Bishop said.
According to a posting on the department’s Facebook page, police will be monitoring drivers using their cellphones vigilantly, even if the driver is stopped at an intersection. Texting is defined as reading or manually composing messages on an electronic device, according to state law.
“Stop texting and driving. The other drivers on the road would appreciate it, and we would, too,” the post read.
Under state law, a first-time offense for texting and driving carries a fine of at least $250. A repeat offense carries a fine of at least $500 and automatic license suspension of at least 30 days.
