Despite tickets, drivers still disobey law

By Christina Scanlon

A recent upswing in cell phone tickets in the village of Granville is due, in part, to dedicated patrols looking for such violations by drivers, according to Granville Police Chief Ernie Bassett.

Funding for extra officers on duty comes from the Governor’s Highway Traffic Safety Grant, awarded across the county.

“They’re looking specifically for vehicle and traffic violations,” Bassett said of the officers. Four cell phone tickets were given in the last week on village streets by officers on that specific duty, in addition to speeding and other traffic violations.

The extra patrols free up regular-duty officers to attend all other police calls.

Changes to state law regarding any hand held electronic device went into effect last fall, increasing fines and penalties as well as drastically increasing the points applied to a driver’s license after a conviction.

Bassett said he’s seen no reduction in cell phone use by drivers because of the law.

“I’m not seeing that,” he said. “Whenever I drive I notice people driving and on their cell phones. A good percentage of people are still on their phones.”

Bassett said he did not believe the problem was exclusive to the village, where cell reception is good while poor in immediately surrounding areas.

“I see it wherever I drive,” he said.

The law applies to any electronic device, regardless of its purpose. Holding a cell phone while using it for GPS will still get you a ticket. So will a dedicated GPS device being operated while being held while driving.

Officers will continue to operate the extra patrols based on the funding from the grant.

Also provided in the grant were funds dedicated to raising teen and pre-teen awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. Granville police used that money to host a program for students in grades 7 through 12 at the end of the school year.