Police are losing the battle to get drivers to put down their phones

Staff Photo by Dan Henry - 3/14/13. Tennessee State Trooper Gordon Roberts uses the department's "No Zone" semi to spot people texting while driving on Brown's Ferry Road early Thursday afternoon. Roberts relayed the offenders vehicle make and model information to a fellow state troopers who pulled the individuals over for citation. This is the Tennessee Highway Patrol's second day using the 18-wheeler to deter texting and drinking while driving. Staff Photo by Dan Henry - 3/14/13. Tennessee State Trooper Gordon Roberts uses the department's "No Zone" semi to spot people texting while driving on Brown's Ferry Road early Thursday afternoon. Roberts relayed the offenders vehicle make and model information to a fellow state troopers who pulled the individuals over for citation. This is the Tennessee Highway Patrol's second day using the 18-wheeler to deter texting and drinking while driving.

By Associated Press, Emmett Gienapp September 2, 2016 7 min read

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Police losing battle to get drivers to put down their phones

Staff Photo by Dan Henry - 3/14/13. Tennessee State Trooper Gordon Roberts uses the department's

In this July 20, 2016 photo, police officer Matthew Monteiro watches for motorists who may be texting while patrolling on his bicycle during afternoon rush hour in East Bridgewater, Mass. Efforts to discourage drivers from texting have increased in recent years, but the consensus is that the problem is only getting worse. Police departments around the country have gotten creative in trying to get drivers to put down their phones. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

In this July 20, 2016 photo, police officer Matthew Monteiro speaks to a motorist about texting while driving while patrolling on his bicycle in East Bridgewater, Mass. Efforts to discourage drivers from texting have increased in recent years, but the consensus is that the problem is only getting worse. Police departments around the country have gotten creative in trying to get drivers to put down their phones. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

In this Wednesday, July 20, 2016 photo, police officer Matthew Monteiro writes a citation for a motorist who was texting while driving, after pulling the vehicle over while patrolling on his bicycle in East Bridgewater, Mass. Efforts to discourage drivers from texting have increased in recent years, but the consensus is that the problem is only getting worse. Police departments around the country have gotten creative in trying to get drivers to put down their phones. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

LOCAL LAWS

*TENNESSEETexting is prohibited while driving in Tennessee.Drivers with learner’s permits or intermediate licenses are prohibited from using cellphones while driving.School bus operators are prohibited from using cellphones while driving if passengers are present.*GEORGIATexting is prohibited while driving in Georgia.All drivers under 18 years old are banned from using cellphones while driving.School bus drivers can’t use cellphones while loading and unloading passengers, nor while the bus is in motion.*ALABAMAIt is illegal to use a cellphone while driving to send or receive text messages, instant messages and emails.If you are 16 or 17 years old and have only held your license for under 6 months, it is illegal for you to use your cellphone or mobile device at any time while driving.*Source: dmv.org

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Highway patrol officers in Chattanooga have been known to patrol in a semitrailer so they can sit up high and spot drivers texting behind the wheel.

In Bethesda, Md., a police officer disguised himself as a homeless man, stood near a busy intersection and radioed ahead to officers down the road about texting drivers. In two hours last October, police gave out 56 tickets.

And in West Bridgewater, Mass., an officer regularly tools around town on his bicycle, pedals up to drivers at stoplights and hands them $105 tickets.

Texting while driving in the U.S. is not just a dangerous habit, but also an infuriatingly widespread one, practiced both brazenly and surreptitiously by so many motorists that police are being forced to get creative – and still can’t seem to make much headway.