Police: Cellphone violators down from 2010

SPRINGFIELD | State police nabbed fewer Illinois motorists last year for violating state laws designed to limit the use of cellphones while driving.

As Illinois lawmakers are poised to begin debating whether to ban cellphone use while operating a motor vehicle, new numbers show 4,103 people were stopped in 2011 for texting while driving and using cellphones in construction and school zones.

That's a sharp drop from 2010, when the Illinois State Police said nearly 7,800 motorists were pulled over for violating the laws that went into effect in January 2010.

The figures don't count citations or warnings issued by county or municipal law enforcement agencies.

A House panel could begin discussing legislation as early as next week that would make it illegal to talk or text on a cellphone while driving on Illinois roads.

State Rep. John D'Amico, D-Chicago, who is sponsoring the proposal, would allow people to use headsets and other hands-free technology to talk on a phone.

"I'm going to push this. This is something I think is a huge distraction on the road. Put the phone down," D'Amico said.

If approved, Illinois would be the 10th state to ban cellphone use while driving.

The proposed law comes in the wake of a call by the National Transportation Safety Board for a complete ban on all cellphone use while driving.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, recently said he believes such a ban could be implemented, but he said he thought it may not be approved this spring.

Some lawmakers say banning all cellphone use is unlikely to happen.

According to the data provided by state police, 2,818 motorists were pulled over for violating the school and construction zone ban in 2011. Of those, 1,880 received citations, while the remainder received warnings.

Of the nearly 1,300 motorists nabbed for texting while driving last year, 839 received citations.

D'Amico said some of the changes he is drafting will reflect how the federal government implemented a recent ban on cellphone use by commercial drivers.

"We want to make sure we do it right. I want something the cops can enforce," D'Amico said.