Enforcement campaign nets distracted drivers

The Maui Police Department Traffic Division handed out 438 citations, made two arrests and delivered 52 warnings during the recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s U TEXT U PAY Distracted Driving awareness enforcement campaign.

The campaign ran from Oct. 5 through Monday. During that time, police issued 197 citations to people using a prohibited mobile electronic device; 169 citations for seat belt violations; two citations for child restraint violations; 35 citations for moving violations and 35 other citations.

In one of the incidents, 29year-old Amanda Bennett was arrested and charged with resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle in the first degree, reckless driving, driving without a valid license and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

Police said that on Oct. 7, they observed the woman driving in Wailuku with her 2year-old child in her lap. When police attempted to stop the female driver, she fled from police with the child still on her lap. Police did not pursue the woman but made an arrest the following morning at her residence on Oct. 8.

The other arrest by the Traffic Division during the campaign was on Oct. 7 and involved a man who had an outstanding warrant for contempt of court.

The Traffic Division says it will continue to have a “strong presence” on the roadways to enforce all traffic violations.

“The ultimate goal is to make sure those who utilize our roadways are safe,” the division said.