New Jersey police crackdown on distracted driving

NEW JERSEY (WTXF) - Police announced that the Burlington County Sheriff's Department will be cracking down on distracted drivers during April as part of New Jersey's U Drive. U Text. U Pay. law enforcement initiative.

Anne Osman has no patience for driver's who get behind the wheel and text.

"Had a few close calls with people who are obviously not paying attention," she told FOX 29.

"We almost got hit by someone who was texting." Michelle Jeffrey and her three children say they've had some close calls with drivers texting while they drive.

"She wasn't paying attention and her car started shifting over. I honked my horn and she realized what she was doing. I gave her the stink eye," she said.

Evesham police officers like T.J. Schwartz will be part of a statewide distracted driving crackdown in New Jersey that starts April 1st. They'll be looking for distracted drivers in a program called U Drive. U Text. U Pay. Last year's crackdown, led to 15,000 texting tickets and 7,000 careless driving summons.

Fines range from $200 to $800 dollars. They can double along safe corridor highways like Route 73 in evesham. Court appearances are mandated on the first violation. It also counts as three points against your license.

With 3,400 deaths and nearly 400,000 injuries nationwide in 2016, drivers FOX 29 spoke with Thursday say the crackdown can save lives--plain and simple