Bellevue police to ticket drivers using cell phones

Belleuve police on June 10 will begin ticketing motorists who use their cell phones while driving. Such infractions have been secondary violations since July 2008, meaning officers had to witness a different traffic offense before making a traffic stop. But the state recently made the infractions a primary violation, which means texting or talking on a cell phone is now reason enough for a traffic stop.

By Joshua Adam Hicks • May 18, 2010 6:54 pm

(Original version posted May 18, 3 p.m. Updated May 20 with information about use of hands-free devices.)

Bellevue police on June 10 will begin ticketing motorists who use their cell phones while driving.

Such infractions have been secondary violations since July 2008, meaning officers had to witness a different traffic offense before making a traffic stop.

But the state recently made the infractions a primary violation, which means texting or talking on a cell phone is now reason enough for a traffic stop.

The city this week adopted the new state infraction. Local drivers will face $124 fines for each offense.

The use of hands-free cell-phone devices is legal for any one over the age of 18. It is not legal for any driver under the age of 18 to talk or text on a cell phone, whether the device is hands free or not.