Cellphone Scofflaws Cited in Montana Town

Police in Butte, Mont., say officers in unmarked cars issued 30 citations in three days to motorists violating the city’s ordinance against texting or talking with a cellphone while driving. A first offence fins is $100.

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff John Walsh tells the Montana Standard he decided to use unmarked cars after commissioners complained about the lack of citations and citizens called the law a joke that had no teeth.

With unmarked cars on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, police averaged 10 citations a day. That’s a significant increase over the 96 citations issued from June 1, 2011, to Oct. 14 of this year.

Walsh says police in marked cars are less successful nabbing motorists breaking the cellphone ban because motorists spot the marked cars easier and put their cellphones in their lap.