On Tuesday, October 2, thru Wednesday, October 3, 2012 the Bismarck Police Department participated in a texting sting within the city. “Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk. As a result Bismarck officers stepped up enforcement to combat this serious violation,” said Deputy Chief Randy Ziegler.

? 47 total enforcement contacts were made with drivers.
? 31 citations were written for texting
? 3 criminal traffic violations, 2 DUS, 1 No liability insurance.
? 2 Red Light Violations
? 1 Speeding
? 1 Child Restraint
? 2 Warrant Arrests
? 11 Warnings

The fact that Bismarck Police issued 31 distracted driving tickets in two days is a wake-up call for all of us. Bismarck motorists must change their behaviors and stop putting themselves and others at risk.

Studies show that texting diminishes reaction time and awareness more than impaired driving. “This goes to the heart of the Bismarck Police Department’s mission to protect life and property and preserve Bismarck’s exceptional quality of life,” said Ziegler. “That is why we have these types of operations and I applaud Lt. Kilde and the traffic section for their fine work in this area.”

Bismarck Law Enforcement will be out in force to show our dedication to solving this problem. “We want 100 percent of motorists to understand the need for drivers to get the message to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road,” said Ziegler.