CT is cracking down on distracted drivers. See how much a violation will cost you.

Law enforcement officers in Connecticut will increase enforcement and pull over texting and distracted drivers during a “high-visibility effort to enforce texting and distracted driving laws” from October 15 to Oct. 31, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.

The agency said Connecticut saw nearly 5,200 crashes attributed to distracted driving in 2022.

Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving fines are steep:

• Ticketed drivers are fined $200 for the first offense.
• The fine is $375 for the second offense.
• The fine is $625 for the third and subsequent offenses.

“Everyone should understand the incredible risk of texting while driving. Taking your eyes off the road for a moment is all it takes to cause a crash and change lives forever,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, in statement.

“For the remaining days of October, our state will see an increased and highly visible law enforcement presence on our roadways with officers stopping and ticketing anyone driving distracted. If you have a phone in your hand, expect to be stopped and issued a ticket.”

The agency, citing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021 across the country, the most year for which there is verifiable data.

Further, according to the DOT, distracted driving has become “one of the nation’s leading causes of vehicle crashes” in the last 10 years. About 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating electronic devices while driving at any moment, the agency said.

5 things to know about what may be distracting drivers on the road with you

“Remember, no text or call is worth a life,” Eucalitto said. “When you’re behind the wheel, stay focused on the road in front of you – not your phone.”

Connecticut law prohibits any use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while driving and any drivers who is 16 or 17 is “prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even with a hands-free accessory,” the agency noted.

DOT offered these tips:

• Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
• Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example.
• Talk with your teens about responsible driving.
• Speak up when a driver uses an electronic device behind the wheel.
• Offer to make the call for the driver, so their full attention stays on the road.
• Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are your best defense against unsafe drivers.
• Be alert for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Remember that you are sharing the road with others who are not in a vehicle. Their lives are your responsibility.