Eyes on the road! Riverhead PD joins statewide campaign against distracted driving

Put those cell phones down while driving, or pay the price.

With April being Distracted Driving Awareness month, the Riverhead Police Department is partnering with the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee on its statewide campaign — “Put the Phone Away or Pay” — to combat inattentive driving.

Local police are beefing up their patrols from Thursday, April 9, until Monday, April 13, and will set up checkpoints throughout the area targeting drivers who use electronic devices while behind the wheel.

Approximately 3,208 people were killed and an estimated additional 315,167 were injured in 2024 during traffic crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee said sending or reading a text can take a person’s eyes off the road for approximately 5 seconds. Under state law, the minimum fine for the first offense of cell phone use while driving is $50, while the maximum is $200. This jumps to $250 on the second offense within 18 months, then $450 on the third or more.

Conviction of cell phone use, portable electronic device use or a texting violation could also result in an added 5 points to a DMV driving record. Those who receive 11 points in a two-year period may have their driver license suspended.

Law enforcement urges the public to implement phone-free driving habits in their daily life, such as pulling over and parking in a safe location before sending or reading a text message. Drivers should also avoid scrolling social media.

Can’t wait to respond? State officials said drivers can ask a passenger to be their “designated texter” and allow them to handle any calls or messages. To limit distractions, users can also put on “Do Not Disturb” mode to silence notifications.

Even putting phones out of sight — either in the trunk, glove box or in the back seat of a vehicle — can break the habit of driving distracted.

For more information, visit trafficsafety.ny.gov.