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Aug 31, 2008 2:48 pm US/Eastern

Police: More Tickets Given To Motorists On Phone

WASHINGTON (AP) ―

District of Columbia officials hope drivers still using their cell phones learn to disconnect or go handsfree.

But police say the number of tickets handed out to violators of the city's ban on cell phone use while driving has continued to climb since enforcement began in 2004.

Police data shows that authorities have issued 6,851 distracted-driving tickets to licensed motorists for using cell phones through July.

That doesn't include tickets given to school bus drivers or those with a learner's permit.

Preliminary figures also show an average of about 75 more tickets per month have been handed out this year compared to the same time in 2007.

But chatting on cell phones isn't the only distraction that can prompt a ticket. Through July, officers gave out 3,308 tickets for violations such as reading a newspaper, applying makeup and eating.

Police say sending text messages or fiddling with an iPod can also result in a distracted driving citation, which can result in a $100 fine.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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