Las Cruces gets tough on chatty drivers

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Police in Las Cruces are serious about enforcing the city's recently approved ban on using a cell phone while driving.

A traffic enforcement operation Monday netted 30 violations of the city's cell phone ordinance and another 57 citations for other offenses.

The effort ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. just north of the Downtown Mall.

Officers cited 18 motorists for speeding, nine for driving without valid insurance, 26 for driving without a seat belt or proper child restraint and four for other offenses. One man was arrested after officers discovered he had an outstanding warrant.

The cell phone ordinance went into effect Feb. 5.