Campaign focuses on distracted driving

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NAUGATUCK — Police officers will be cracking down on distracted drivers as part of the “U DRIVE. U TEXT. U PAY” campaign.

Through this initiative, officers will be on the lookout for drivers who text, talk or distract themselves with a hand-held mobile phone while driving through Aug. 15.

Throughout the campaign, Naugatuck police will add special patrols aimed at catching distracted drivers, a press release stated. The special patrols are funded by Connecticut’s special distracted driving prevention funds.

Over 50 law enforcement agencies, including state and local police, are participating in the campaign, according to the release. During the first wave of this campaign in April, more than 10,000 citations were issued to drivers in Connecticut, the press release stated.

Under Connecticut’s cell phone and texting law, fines are $150 for a first offense, $300 for a second violation and $500 for each subsequent violation.