Canfield keeps ticketing

Canfield police say they are still writing distracted-driving tickets every day, including four citations before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22. (wkbn.com) Sergeant Kyle Young told WKBN officers keep seeing drivers look down at phones for messages, music changes and other quick checks. He said one driver on April 22 did not notice a cruiser behind them with its lights on because the driver was looking at a phone. (wkbn.com) Ohio’s current hands-free law took effect on April 4, 2023, and made phone-related distracted driving a primary offense for adults, which means an officer can stop a driver for that conduct alone. The Ohio Department of Transportation says adults generally cannot use, hold or physically support a phone while driving. (transportation.ohio.gov) The law still leaves room for limited exceptions. Ohio allows adults to hold a phone to the ear for a call, use speakerphone or vehicle-connected hands-free systems, follow navigation without holding the device, and make a single touch or swipe in some cases. (codes.ohio.gov) (transportation.ohio.gov) That is part of why local enforcement can look confusing: Ohio bans many kinds of handheld phone use, but not every interaction with a device. In March 2025, the Fifth District Court of Appeals threw out one distracted-driving conviction after finding the driver’s conduct fell within the statute’s call-related exception. (supremecourt.ohio.gov) State officials say the broader crackdown has still changed behavior. The Ohio Department of Public Safety said on April 9, 2025 that the average number of crashes had dropped 8%, injuries were down 3% and traffic fatalities were down 4% since the law took effect in April 2023. (publicsafety.ohio.gov) The same state release said Ohio recorded 8,571 distracted-driving-related crashes in 2024, with 29 deaths and 4,458 injuries. It also said 36% of those crashes happened at intersections. (publicsafety.ohio.gov) Penalties in Ohio start at up to $150 and two license points for a first offense in two years, then rise to up to $250 and three points for a second offense, and up to $500 and four points for a third offense, with a possible 90-day suspension. The state says a distracted-driving course can help a first-time offender avoid the fine and points. (transportation.ohio.gov) In Canfield, the message from police is narrower than the legal debate: officers say phone use behind the wheel remains common enough that they expect to keep writing tickets unless drivers change their habits. (wkbn.com)