California Highway Patrol Says 30,000 Ticketed for Using Cell Phones

California Highway Patrol officials say about 30,000 people across the state are facing fines after being ticketed for using cell phones or other electronic devices while driving.

CHP spokeswoman Sgt. Diana McDermott says the tickets were issued in April as part of a campaign enforcing the state’s so-called distracted driving laws.

Of the tickets issued last month, about 5,900 were handed out to San Francisco Bay area drivers.

Officials want to remind drivers that it is illegal in California to use a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, unless the phone is being used in hands-free mode, or during an emergency.

Texting or reading a message on a cell phone or using an electronic device to communicate while driving is also prohibited.