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Over 9,000 Cellphone Drivers Busted in NYPD's 24-Hour Sting
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 14, 2009
Modified Mar 14, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 14, 2009
Modified Mar 14, 2009
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After a day-long ticket blitz, the NYPD issued 9,016 tickets to drivers using their cellphones—all this in spite of the cops essentially warning people earlier this week that they'd be out in force.
The NYPD says that on an average day, they hand out 500 tickets to drivers with cellphone in one hand and the other on the wheel (hands-free cellphones are allowed, except for taxi drivers; last year, the NYPD issued 195,579 tickets). And the fine is $120—hello, seven-figure city revenue! But NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said, "The intent was not for revenue," it was to ending the "widespread ignoring of the prohibitions against using [non-hands-free] cellphones while driving."
Still, the Staten Island Advance noticed some drivers who were openly on their cellphones while crossing the dangerous intersection of Hylan Boulevard and New Dorp Lane: "It was hard to miss the worker in the white Bobco Construction van. He came through the intersection twice -- talking on his phone both times. He even answered the phone when the Advance called a cell phone number posted on the truck."
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cellphone driver ticket blitz
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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