Operation Ghost Rider kicks off in Oakland, Macomb counties
OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (Fox 2) - Starting this week, police will be actively patrolling the roads in Oakland and Macomb counties as part of Operation Ghost Rider – a campaign aimed at cracking down on distracted driving.
During the operation, police use unmarked spotter vehicles to look for drivers who are distracted. If a distracted driver is spotted, an officer in a marked vehicle is notified to stop the driver.
Michigan's distracted driving law changed over the summer to prohibit any task on a mobile phone while driving. This includes, talking on the phone, taking videos, using social media, and texting, even at a red light.
Police will be looking for all these behaviors during Operation Ghost Rider.
"The majority of people actually have admitted that they understand what they’re doing was wrong," said Jim Santilli, CEO of TIA and chairman of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commissions’ Distracted Driving Action Team.
Drivers texting are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
"Anytime a driver is taking their attention away from the primary task of driving, it puts innocent lives at risk and that’s something we need to all remember," Santilli continued. "When we’re operating a motor vehicle, we not only have a responsibility to protect our life, but also, the lives of innocent people traveling around us."
Michigan's new distracted driving law: What you can't do
The bills, signed by the governor earlier in June, make Michigan the 26th state to pass a hands-free law in the U.S.
According to state reports from 2022, over 15,000 crashes were attributed to distracted driving. These accidents resulted in injuries for nearly 6,000 individuals and claimed the lives of almost 60 people.
The initiative is a partnership between Michigan State Police, county, and local law enforcement officers, along with the Transportation Improvement Association (TIA) and funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). Earlier this year, law enforcement agencies around the state participated in the initiative.
"Distracted driving continues to be a top traffic safety concern on our roads," Santilli said. "We can save lives by simply keeping our eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times. We hope Operation Ghost Rider will further educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving."
Your first violation for using a cell phone while driving would be a $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service. From there, the penalty increases to $250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service for second or subsequent violations. If 3 violations occur within a 3-year period, the driver would be ordered by the court to complete a drive-improvement course.
Police will continue Operation Ghost Rider through the end of 2023.