(La Porte County, IN) - Local law enforcement agencies will take part in a nationwide blitz on speeding and distracting driver that begins Saturday.

 

Michigan City Police announced today the department will join La Porte Police and the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office in the crackdown running through April 19.

 

According to statistics, distracted driving and speeding caused over 17,000 thousand crashes that resulted in 230 deaths statewide in 2024.

 

“Distracted driving isn’t just risky, it’s deadly,” said James Bryan, Traffic Safety Director for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

 

“Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can change a life forever. No text, call, or notification is worth the cost of a crash,” he said.  

 

The campaign featuring officers working overtime to boost patrols is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with grants awarded by the ICJI.

 

Police said drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving.  In 2020, Indiana adopted a law prohibiting holding or using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

 

Since then, law enforcement agencies have worked to educate motorists, issuing 7,684 hands-free citations and 11,203 warnings in 2024 alone.

 

Violating the law is a Class C infraction, which carries a fine of up to $500 and results in points being added to an individual’s driver’s license, authorities said.