Enforcement – Hand-held cell phone ban while driving

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman says the agency plans to use grant money to enforce a new law that went into effect last week.

Three House bills focusing on districted driving went into effect Saturday. Essentially, the law forbids use of a hand-held cell phone while driving. This includes use of a mobile electronic device to do any task, including making or receiving a telephone call; sending or receiving a text; viewing, recording or transmitting a video; and accessing, reading or posting to a social-network site.

Bingaman said the sheriff’s department is paying overtime, thanks to a $33,000 grant from Office of Highway Safety Planning, to monitor for motorists not in compliance with the law.

The targeted enforcement will continue on major routes within St. Joseph County through Sept. 4, Bingaman said.