Washington County Sheriff's Summary

PUT THE PHONE AWAY OR PAY

The Sheriff's Office has completed our participation the "Put The Phone Away or Pay" a national high-visibility law enforcement campaign directed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to combat distracted driving. This was funded by the NDOT Highway Safety Office. The goal was to reduce accidents caused by distracting driving. During this campaign Washington County deputies worked 42 hours and contacted 64 motorists. 28 citations were issued including: 5 for violation of the handheld wireless device, 12 speeding and 1 for a move over violation.

Selective traffic enforcement (also known as targeted or directed enforcement) has been shown to significantly reduce motor vehicle accidents by focusing resources on high-risk locations, specific time periods, and dangerous driving behaviors. Research indicates that these programs can reduce crashes by as much as 22% to 40% in targeted areas. WCSO urges everyone to put the phone down while driving, the life you may save could be your own.