Riverside County Sheriff's Office in Indian Wells to Conduct Crackdown on Texting While Driving

On Friday, July 5, the Riverside County – Indian Wells Sheriff's Office will conduct a enforcement operation targeting drivers suspected of violating the Hands-Free Cell Phone Law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting or using an app.

Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is punishable by a fine. A second offence under the Hands-Free Kit Act within 36 months of a previous conviction for the same offence will result in a point being added to the driver's record.

“The driver needs to focus on the road, not their phone,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Don Olson. “That text, phone call, email or social media post is not worth the risk to yourself and other road users.”

If you need directions to a program or need to take an important call, pull into a secure parking space. Put your phone on silent or place it out of reach before driving.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.