115 drivers cited for texting while driving from Palm Beach County to Treasure Coast in January 2020

The warning period is over.

Since New Year's Day in Florida, law enforcement officers have been citing drivers, instead of handing out warnings, for texting and driving on roadways.

ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA.DRIVERS WERE GIVEN A 6 MONTHEDUCATION PERIOD WHEN THE LAWWENT INTO EFFECT, BUT THATENDED JANUARY 1ST.

CONTACT 5INVESTIGATOR MERRIS BADCOCK ISLIVE FROM CHOPPER 5 WITH HOWMANY DRIVERS HAVE BEEN CITSO FAR THE YEAR.HERE IN CHOPPER 5 -- I CAN SEEPACKED ROADS (AD LIB)...WHAT ICAN'T SEE?

WHAT PEOPLE MIGHTBE DOING ON THEIR PHONES.

BUTTROOPERS ON THE GROUND CAN.(TAKE CAMERA OF ROADS) IN FOOF OUR COUNTIES SO FAR 1DRIVERS HAVE BEEN CITED FORTEXTING WHILE DRIVING IN THEFIRST MONTH OF 2020 ALONE.THAT'S ALMOST 4 DRIVERS A DAY.A REMINDER FROM FLORIDAHIGHWAY PATROL TO*PUTDOWN11;42;18 - NATS: CAR BEEPING,BUCKLING SEATBELT.

11:43:17 -I LOVE WORKING FOR THE FLORIDAHIGHWAY PATROL.

TROOPERERNESTO HERNANDEZ 11;43;09 - ILOVE THE INTERSTATE...ITFAMILY ITAGENCY.

WITH JUST 2 YEARSUNDER HIS BELT 11:54;00 -NATS: GETTING OUT OF CAR ISDONE GIVING WARNINGS TODRIVERS 11;54;16 - HOW YOUDOING SIR?

VIOLATING FLORIDA'SNEW LAW.

11;54;21 - LISTEN THEREASON WHY I PULLED YOU OVERIS YOU WERE COMING OFF THATRAMP AND YOU WERE OPERATINGYOUR YOUR PHONE WHILE DRIVINGTHE VEHICLE.

11:45:25 - I'VEWRITTEN OVER, OVER 300.

//REPORTER: FOR TEXTING WHILEDRIVING?

// YES, SINCE IT GOTPASSED.

// REALLY?

// YES.

//REPORTER: WOW THATBROWARD COUNTY INTERSTATESMIGHT BE A BIT BUSIER BUTTHAT'S CERTAINLY MORE THWHAT WE'VE SEEN LOCALLY.

INTHE FIRST MONTH OF JANUARYPALM BEACH COUNTY HAD 68TEXTING WHILE DRIVINGCITATIONS, MARTIN HAD 25, ST.LUCIE HAD 20 AND INDIAN RIVERHAD 2.

DRIVEN BY HIS CIVICDUTY 12;08;34 - YOU GOT ONERIGHT THERE TOO LOOK AT THEM.TO WRITE THOSE TEXTINGCITATIONS DOESNWEWE EDUCATE THEM EVERYWHERE.(NATS - SIRENS) 12;08;48TROOPER HERNANDEZ SAYS HE'SALSO LEARNED SOMETHING FROMDRIVERS.

11:52;19 - IA LOT OF DISABLED VEHICLES,WHEN I ACTUALLY PULL OVER NEXTTO THEM AND I ASK THEM HEY YOUKNOW ARE YOU OK?

AND THEY SAYYEAH, YOU KNOW I JUST DIDNWANT TO USE MY PHONE WHILEDRIVING.

11;52;29 - AND A LOTOF THEM - THEREPEOPLE THAT HAVE GOTTEN THEMESSAGE AND THEYAND THEY WONWHILE DRIVING.IF YOU'RE CITED FOR TEXTINGWHILE DRIVING IT'S $30 BUCKS,PLUS COURT COSTS FOR THE FIRSTOFFENSE....A SECOND OFFENSWILL GET YOU $60 PLUS COURCOSTS*AND 3 POINTS ON YOURLICENSE.

AND COURT COSTSUSUALLY PUT THAT TICKET OVER$100 DOLLARS FOLKS SO IT ADDSUP QUICK.

SO REMEMBER WHEN YOUHEAD OUT THE DOOR TODAY ---PUT IT DOWN.

LIVE FROM CHOPPER5, MERRIS BADCOCK, WPTVNEWSCHANNELTURNING TO PROTECTING PARA