Enjoy your tickets, jerks!

State Patrol warns:
Tickets on cell phones begin June 10, no exceptions

By SCOTT SUNDE
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

The Washington State Patrol warned Friday that drivers who text or talk on a hand-held cell phone should expect a ticket on June 10.

No excuses accepted. Tickets will be handed out.

And if you are convicted, expect a $124 fine.

The State Patrol often has a grace period when a new law takes effect, but not with this one.

"Drivers have already had nearly two years to adjust their driving habits," said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste said in a news release. "We will fully enforce this law from day one."

At 12:01 a.m. June 10, texting while driving or failure to use a hands-free device becomes a primary offense.

Driving while texting or using a hands-held phone took effect two years ago. But violations were a secondary offense.

Officers had to see another violation, such as speeding, to make a stop.

The law didn't do much to keep people from texting while driving or chatting on a hands-held phone at the wheel.

"They would look right at our troopers with phones held to their ears," Batiste said. "They knew that without another violation we couldn't do anything."

Since the law went into effect in 2008, the State Patrol has written 3,000 tickets for it and handed out 5,900 warnings.

The State Patrol says there are probably more accidents that occur when drivers are on the phone than they are willing to admit.

"Few drivers are going to admit they were on a cell phone, or texting, after a crash," Batiste said. "We are choosing to take action before a collision occurs in hopes of preventing these needless tragedies."