New taskforce sees thousands of distracted driving traffic stops

PAW PAW, Mich. (WNEM) — Officers from 20 police agencies in Michigan and Canada have partnered to form a new task force focused on preventing distracted driving.

On April 1, the first-of-its-kind international traffic enforcement operation “Lake to Lake Focused and Safe,” conducted 1,638 traffic stops related to distracted driving. The project to prevent distracted driving covers more than 500 miles along I-94 and Highways 402 and 401.

“Distracted driving continues to pose a serious threat to everyone on the road,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police.

In total, officers issued 1,140 traffic citations, 645 verbal warnings and 48 arrests. The agencies involved in the task force include:

• Indiana State Police
• Ontario Provincial Police
• Windsor Police Department
• Berrien County Sheriff
• Calhoun County Sheriff
• Van Buren County Sheriff
• Jackson County Sheriff
• Clair County Sheriff
• Wayne County Sheriff
• Macomb County Sheriff
• Washtenaw County Sheriff
• Marshall Police Department
• Taylor Police Department
• Romulus Police Department
• Emmett Township Public Safety
• Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety
• Van Buren Police Department
• Chesterfield Police Department
• Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Police

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