Put The Phone Down Or Face The Consequences On The Road

Every year, April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. New York State Police participate in this effort, as well as many other state organizations around the country.

Put the Phone Away or Pay

The theme for New York State in 2026 is “Put the Phone Away or Pay.” This campaign began on Monday, April 6, 2026, and continues through Monday, April 13, 2026.

Over this time period, New York State Troopers are conducting targeted enforcement details that focus on motorists who are using electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

While you may notice marked New York State Police vehicles being used in this campaign, NYS Troopers will also be using Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles.
The CITE vehicles may not appear to be law enforcement vehicles since they blend in with traffic, but they are clearly identifiable when emergency lighting is activated. CITE vehicles allow NYS Troopers to better observe violations from an elevated vantage point.

Last year (2025), according to the New York State Police, Troopers issued 22,867 tickets, including 4,607 for distracted driving violations during the “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign.

Tips To Help Prevent Crashes

New York State Police have some tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help prevent crashes and save lives:

• If you must send or receive a text, pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle first.
• If you have passengers, appoint a “designated texter” to handle communications
• If you are prone to distraction, keep your phone out of reach.

Penalties For Distracted Driving In New York State

• 1st offense - get fined between 50 and 200 dollars.
• For a 2nd offense within 18 months, expect to pay up to 250 dollars.
• 3rd or subsequent offence in 18 months, the fine goes up to 450 dollars.
• For probationary and junior drivers, a 120-day license suspension for a first offense, and a one-year revocation if a second offense is committed within six months

Don't become a distracted driver. New York State Police note that distracted driving remains a leading cause of preventable crashes on New York’s roadways.

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