Teh One Who Knocks
04-03-2015, 10:48 AM
By Sharie Johnson - 8 News Now
http://i.imgur.com/qJniAhA.jpg
LAS VEGAS -- The Nevada Highway Patrol has a campaign to crackdown on distracted drivers, but how far is too far when it comes to cracking the whip? 8 News NOW decided to examine that question after a Las Vegas woman said she received a ticket for putting on lip balm at a red light.
Stephanie Fragoso said she was cited Wednesday during the statewide crackdown. She said she was at a red light at I-15 and Blue Diamond when it happened.
Fragoso said when she asked the officer why he pulled her over, he told her it was for putting on makeup.
"I told him it was Chapstick,” Fragoso said.
Initially, Fragoso thought the entire thing was a joke, especially since it was April Fools Day, but when she received the $200 citation, she quickly realized that wasn't the case.
“He said 'it could have been anything; you could have been drinking water, shaving your legs',” said Fragoso.
Law enforcement officers say drivers can be ticketed for any distraction that takes their focus away from the road and their hands off the wheel. Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Loy Hixson said this is a city and county ordinance most people don't know about.
“It states that when a person is operating a vehicle they must provide full attention to the driving so that it won't render that action to be unsafe,” Hixson said.
When it comes to distracted drivers, Hixson said he has seen it all.
“They may be eating; we've seen women putting on makeup. I have seen men shaving with their electric razors," Hixson said. "One time, when I was driving down U.S. 95, I saw a lady watching a movie on her iPad and the iPad was attached to her steering wheel with Velcro."
Hixson says each ticket is issued on a case by case basis. For example, some drivers that may be an exception to the rule are people with medical conditions. Take a person who may have an episode; those drivers most likely will not receive a citation, according to Hixson.
However, that wasn't the case for Fragoso. The valley woman said she learned a tough lesson that day. Fragoso says she plans to be more conscience.
Along, with the fine, Fragoso's ticket caused her to receive points against her driving record.
http://i.imgur.com/qJniAhA.jpg
LAS VEGAS -- The Nevada Highway Patrol has a campaign to crackdown on distracted drivers, but how far is too far when it comes to cracking the whip? 8 News NOW decided to examine that question after a Las Vegas woman said she received a ticket for putting on lip balm at a red light.
Stephanie Fragoso said she was cited Wednesday during the statewide crackdown. She said she was at a red light at I-15 and Blue Diamond when it happened.
Fragoso said when she asked the officer why he pulled her over, he told her it was for putting on makeup.
"I told him it was Chapstick,” Fragoso said.
Initially, Fragoso thought the entire thing was a joke, especially since it was April Fools Day, but when she received the $200 citation, she quickly realized that wasn't the case.
“He said 'it could have been anything; you could have been drinking water, shaving your legs',” said Fragoso.
Law enforcement officers say drivers can be ticketed for any distraction that takes their focus away from the road and their hands off the wheel. Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Loy Hixson said this is a city and county ordinance most people don't know about.
“It states that when a person is operating a vehicle they must provide full attention to the driving so that it won't render that action to be unsafe,” Hixson said.
When it comes to distracted drivers, Hixson said he has seen it all.
“They may be eating; we've seen women putting on makeup. I have seen men shaving with their electric razors," Hixson said. "One time, when I was driving down U.S. 95, I saw a lady watching a movie on her iPad and the iPad was attached to her steering wheel with Velcro."
Hixson says each ticket is issued on a case by case basis. For example, some drivers that may be an exception to the rule are people with medical conditions. Take a person who may have an episode; those drivers most likely will not receive a citation, according to Hixson.
However, that wasn't the case for Fragoso. The valley woman said she learned a tough lesson that day. Fragoso says she plans to be more conscience.
Along, with the fine, Fragoso's ticket caused her to receive points against her driving record.