It is my understanding that the Sheriff’s department is finally addressing drivers operating cellphones.

It is about time, this is the most flagrant and disregarded traffic violation that is enforced by law enforcement everywhere. There are jurisdictions that issue citations ranging from $75 and up to $300.

The “grace period” is long over for people to have made the adjustment to not operate a cellphone while driving. It is ludicrous that people insist on ignoring the existing law.

I was turning left onto 2nd off Guard the other day and by the time I transgressed though the stop sign at Carter and Blair I observed four drivers using the cell-phone. It is amazing that you can see people exiting their driveway and be on the cellphone. If one was to monitor an intersection you might observe someone running a stop sign at the rate of about five to six miles an hour. In that same hour, you will observe more drivers on their cell-phone. And yes, you will observe the cellphone operator to also run the stop sign.

My suggestion:  have a “Zero Tolerance Day” for violators and issue citations, not warnings. I don’t doubt that it would result in 100 citations being issued within an eight-hour period.

Deputies certainly have other things to do, but even a 30-minute devotion of a deputy’s shift would result in numerous citations being issued. If the local newspaper even published a warning as to this zero tolerance day it would still be ignored. Being issued a citation would have a sobering effect and even hearing about someone else receiving a citation will get the message across.

Joe Caputo

Friday Harbo