It's a bad habit. You roll up on a stop sign or stoplight and you pick up your phone for a brief second - It's enough to get you a citation from the Kennewick Police Department.

KPD has been writing tickets for distracted driving and officers are reporting an uptick in citations given for distracted driving.

KPD wrote over 160 citations were written at the intersection of Canal and Edison last Friday alone.

KPD reports that it's still illegal to look or be on your smartphone even when you are stopped at a light or stop sign.

The Distracted Driver law passed over three years ago and KPD reports that the citations could cost you even more over time if you continue to get cited for Distracted Driving.

A first offense ticket will run you $139 but the more tickets you receive will increase that fee over time.

Kennewick Police and The Washington State Patrol are reminding drivers that staying off your smartphone while driving is the smartest and safest way to avoid a citation for law enforcement agencies.

I was an offender for many years and luckily never got a citation for Distracted Driving but I've learned to stay off my smartphone. I usually throw it in the side pocket of my truck and keep it out of sight so I won't be tempted to look at it when I stop at a stop sign or a stoplight.

If you want to read more on the Kennewick Police Department crackdown on Distracted Driving, click here for more details.

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