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Who's Cited In New Cell Phone Ban?

Honolulu Police Issue More than 600 Tickets

POSTED: 4:52 pm HST November 9, 2009
UPDATED: 6:17 am HST November 10, 2009

Six months into Honolulu's ban on using electronic devices while driving shows that those being cited are more likely to be male, young and a local resident.

From the beginning of the ban until the middle of October, Honolulu police issued 649 citations.

"I was very upset," motorist Cynthia Alvarado said.

On day one of the ban, an officer spotted Alvarado in Kaimuki.

"He followed you for quite a while?" KITV reporter Daryl Huff asked.

"He did," Alvarado said.

"And you were talking all that time?" Huff asked.

"I was talking all that time," Alvarado said.

"Because you had no idea?" Huff asked.

"Clueless," Alvarado said.

KITV found some interesting trends. Do not assume women drivers are more likely to get busted. In fact, two-thirds of those cited have been men -- 64 percent male and 35 percent female.

Those receiving tickets are on the younger side -- 38 percent were under 30 years old. The older you get, the less likely you have been ticketed. Only 5 percent of those cited have been over 60.

Hawaii residents got 94 percent of the tickets. Only 5 percent were from out of state.

Few people are fighting the tickets.

"It seems that people have complied with the law,"

A sample of more than 100 citations show fewer than 10 percent challenged the violation.

Attorney Pat McPherson represents people in traffic court. He said the relatively low fine and the fact that it will not affect most insurance policies makes people accept the penalty.

"Since its only $67, people are willing to pay it because they were probably talking on the phone when they got pulled over," McPherson said.
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