SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls Police made over 400 traffic stops in a five-month period to curb distracted driving.
Sergeant Randy Brink says officers issued 64 texting while driving tickets and almost 80 warnings.
Brink says officers on patrol made 200 stops during the effort, while a spotter, or stationary officer, made 216 stops over the same time. The initial patrols focused on education while later stops included enforcement
Brink says by no means does the end of the saturation patrols signal an end to distracted driving enforcement. He says the effort enforces officer's vigilance to get drivers to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving and have them act accordingly.
Brink says the goal will be to conduct saturation patrols for distracted driving at least once a month in 2017.
Assistant Chief Galen Smidt says, surprisingly, officers got positive feedback from many of the drivers they stopped.