New York Troopers Plan 5th Cell Phone Crackdown

State police are launching a fifth installment of “Operation Hang Up,” a four-day enforcement effort on the New York State Thruway aimed at motorists who violate the state’s ban on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

Troop T, the state police division that covers the Thruway, issued 879 tickets to violators of the cell phone law during the four-day “Operation Hang Up” last spring. Members of Troop T issued 8,172 tickets during all of last year for cell phone scofflaws.

The crackdown is in effect Monday through Thursday.

Violators who are ticketed face a maximum fine of $100 and a mandatory $60 surcharge. It is also illegal in New York state to text message, surf the Internet or play computer games while driving. The maximum fine is $150.