Photo courtesy of http://braininjurysvcs.org/

Heads up if you’re driving in the Aurora area.

And we mean that literally.

According to a city of Aurora press release, police are sending a strong message to drivers who refuse to put their cell phones down while driving: Either obey the law or pay a fine.

For the past month, officers have been staging specialized operations that target motorists talking on cell phones without utilizing a hands-free device or texting while driving. Since April 21, the details have yielded 117 citations or written warning tickets for illegal use of an electronic device while driving. Between Jan. 1 when the new law took effect, and May 20, police have ticketed 223 drivers and issued written warnings to another 328 motorists compared to 114 citations and 31 written warnings for the same period last year.

Police have been concentrating the operations on areas where the highest number of accidents occur including Route 59 at Liberty Street, 75th Street, and Eola Road on the Far East side; Farnsworth Avenue at Molitor Road and New York Street; and Route 25 at North Avenue and Indian Trail on the East side; and Lake Street at Galena Boulevard and New York; and the Orchard Road corridor on Aurora’s West side.

“From the time we earned our first driver’s license, we were told the importance of complete focus when behind the wheel,” said Chief of Police Greg Thomas. “Texting while driving and not using a hands-free device are more than illegal. They’re dangerous and can cost someone their life.”

The law stipulates that hands-free devices such as speaker phones, a blue tooth, or headsets must be used while talking on a cell phone while driving. In addition, all cell phone use is prohibited while driving in school zones and construction zones and for those drivers under the age of 18. All motorists in Illinois are also prohibited from texting while driving. Illinois’ cell phone and texting laws are both primary laws meaning that a motorist can be pulled over if a police officer views an offense without having to witness some other violation.

Aurora Police will also begin a series of details that will be staged Citywide beginning this Friday, May 30, where they will be not only looking for drivers illegally using cell phones, but seatbelt scofflaws as well.

Calling it “Click-It, Drop It, and Drive”, officers on foot will target a well-traveled intersection for several hours and when they spot violators, direct them to a nearby parking lot and issue appropriate citations. Aside from illegal cell phone use and motorists not wearing seatbelts, officers will also check to assure drivers licenses and vehicle insurance policies are valid.
SOURCE: City of Aurora