Police hope ‘Operation Ghost Rider’ will reduce phone use during driving
Michigan’s distracted driver law calls for an initial $100 fine that increases to $250 for repeat offenders.
Starting Monday, Michigan State Police and several agencies in Metro Detroit begin a coordinated search for drivers who watch their cell phones instead of the roadway.
Police call the initiative “Operation Ghost Rider.”
Unmarked cars containing a law enforcement passenger will cruise roads, examining whether drivers in nearby vehicles are focusing on their phones. When they find such a driver, the unmarked “ghost” car will radio in to a patrol vehicle, which then pulls the driver over in a traffic stop.
Michigan’s distracted driver law calls for an initial $100 fine that increases to $250 for repeat offenders.
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Officials say that on average, a driver takes about five seconds to send or look at a text — enough time for a vehicle to travel the length of a football field at highway speeds.
That distraction can lead to accidents that officials say are completely preventable.
“Distracted driving continues to be a top traffic safety concern on our roads,” Jim Santilli, CEO of the Transportation Improvement Association, told Fox 2. “We can save lives by simply keeping our eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times. We hope Operation Ghost Rider will further educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving.”
