Police Increase Enforcement of Cell Phone Ban

The fools in Deerfield April 1 may be the drivers using a hand held cellular phone.

That is the day the Deerfield Police Department, along with law enforcement agencies in Lake Forest, Highland Park, Waukegan, Winnetka, Evanston and Chicago, will make a concerted week long effort to educate drivers about the ban on hand held devices and increase enforcement.

Earlier: Burglary Spike Distorts Deerfield Crime Rate

During the first full year of enforcement and education in 2012, Deerfield police officers handed out 1,283 warnings and 191 tickets. Chief John Sliozis hopes the final effort at education will reduce the need for writing more tickets.

“You will see more enforcement as well,” Sliozis said. “We’ve been educating and enforcement is the next step.”

Sliozis and his colleagues from neighboring communities hope the Illinois General Assembly will pass a statewide ban to make things easier. .

There will be two more week long efforts. One will be at the end of the current school year and the other just before the next term starts. There will also be increased enforcement of a statewide ban on cell phone use in school or construction zones.

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