New Canaan Police have made 159 stops for distracted driving since June 1, officials said Tuesday—up from 92 such stops in the same timeframe last year, a 73 percent increase.
Officers are using unmarked cars in some cases and though “the summer months are a bit lighter, people are away,” distracted drivers are very active, according to Police Capt. John DiFederico.
“And we are getting cars pretty consistently,” DiFederico told members of the Police Commission during their regular meeting, held at the New Canaan Police Department.
When Commissioner Paul Foley asked whether it was “pretty easy” to spot motorists using smartphones, Police Chief Leon Krolikowski responded: “Fish in a barrel.”
The update to the commission comes as police focus enforcement efforts on streets with histories of accidents as well as complaints. Krolikowski has referred to distracted driving as the number one, major motor vehicle threat facing New Canaan. Here’s a column from the chief that details what constitutes distracted driving and the consequences of such under state law.
During Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, in the morning, First Selectmen Rob Mallozzi commended the Police Department for “active traffic enforcement” based on radio dispatches.
Selectman Nick Williams asked the chief how officers determine a driver is guilty of distracted driving.
“It’s an eyes-on thing,” Krolikowski said. “You see it in their hand and they are using it, it’s supposed to be hands free. The officer makes a stop.”
Asked whether an officer would look through a motorist’s phone if he or she claims the police got it wrong, the chief said, “That is unusual.”
“It happens on occasion but it’s unusual for us to look at the phone like that.. Usually if the officer sees it in the person’s hand and they are driving with it, it’s supposed to be hands-free, and then he or she makes a determination about what enforcement action is appropriate. And as you know it is very dangerous so we try to focus on that and get driving behavior to change.”