Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Henderson police targeting distracted drivers this month

Driver on phone

Charles Krupa / AP Photo

A driver talks on a cell phone while driving through the Financial District of Boston.

Here’s a fair warning for distracted drivers in Henderson — plainclothes officers will be targeting motorists who run red lights, speed or use their cellphones this month in the city.

The plainclothes cops will be stationed at busy intersections through Feb. 28 targeting scofflaws and using radios to communicate with uniformed officers who can pull them over using marked patrol cars, said Henderson spokeswoman Kathleen Richards.

Using a cellphone while driving has been illegal in Nevada since January 2012. Motorists, however, are allowed to briefly touch their cellphones to place a call or end it using a hands-free headset or Bluetooth device.

Henderson Police officers issued 2,502 citations to drivers who broke the cellphone law in 2012; that number fell to 1,976 last year.

The Nevada Department of Transportation blames distracted driving for more than 2,000 crashes each year.

Henderson police received $188,000 in funding through the Nevada Department of Public Safety for the extra enforcement this month and for education initiatives to reduce crashes. The money will also fund efforts focusing on pedestrian safety, seat belt use and driving while intoxicated.

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