Salinas police bust drivers for cellphone use during sting operation

Seven cellphone tickets were issued Sunday morning in Salinas during a police sting operation.

Salinas Police said an undercover officer looked for drivers using their cellphone and then informed a uniformed officer in a marked patrol car of the violation. Ten stops were made 3 hours.

“It has been shown time and time again that using your cellphone while driving is very dangerous,” said Sgt. Gerry Ross. “It’s very tempting to answer that phone when someone calls but it is not worth someone getting hurt or killed. Find a place to pull over and call the person back.”

Ross said drivers are keeping an eye out for police, and officers are having to get more creative to enforce cellphone laws.

Salinas Police said they are also sending plainclothes officers out on foot, to look into cars to spot illegal cellphone use.