Citations for violations of state's new cellphone law approach 670

Nearly 670 drivers statewide have paid — literally — for talking on handheld phones or texting behind the wheel since the cellphone law went into effect June 10.

The State Patrol has issued 633 citations for driving while talking on a handheld cellphone and 34 citations for texting.

Each ticket incurs a fine of $124, and so far, offenders have been assessed a total of $82,708.

What happens to that money?

The majority goes to local governments and the state's general fund. Some of the money pays for a computer system that courts can use statewide.

The law was unusual because it had no initial grace period.

Using a handheld phone while driving was formerly a secondary offense, meaning people could be cited only if they were pulled over for violating another traffic law, such as crossing lane lines or not using a turn signal.

"We see the grace period as the last two years," Trooper Christina Martin said.

Using a handheld cellphone has been illegal as a secondary offense since 2008.

Though troopers can cite drivers who won't put their phone down, they also have issued nearly 500 warnings. The ratio of warnings to citations is consistent with that of other traffic violations, according to the Patrol.

Martin predicts the volume of tickets and fines will decrease as more people are cited for breaking the new cellphone law.

She said she's already noticed fewer people holding phones to the ear and texting behind the wheel.

"It took me three days just to find someone talking on the phone," she said.

Martin said those she has pulled over have been well aware of the cellphone law and offered no excuses for violating it.

Bob Calkins, a Patrol spokesman, said there have been fewer texting tickets because fewer people do it, and it is harder to identify.

A spokesman said the Seattle Police Department has not tracked the number of citations it has issued under the new law.

Carly Flandro: 206-464-2108 or cflandro@seattletimes.com