Distracted driving ticketing plummets in Chicago since 2015

CHICAGO (AP) - Data from Chicago police show that the number of tickets officers have issued for distracted driving has plummeted over the last three years.

The Chicago Tribune reports (http://trib.in/2pr41yV ) police gave out 25,884 tickets for motorists using mobile devices in 2015. That number was 186 tickets in 2016 and 24 tickets through April 16 of this year.

A Chicago police spokesman says the department changed its cellphone citation policy in 2015. Cellphone violations now must follow the same process as other traffic violations. That means they require more police time because the violations have to go to traffic court and require the presence of the citing officer to be upheld.

Chicago police say officers take traffic safety seriously and the department is working on a plan to increase awareness and enforcement.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com