Email   Print   Share By Heather Graham-Ashley, Sentinel News Editor

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Julie Cordova from the Installation Safety Office takes photos of the license plates of those violating the cell phone ban while driving on Fort Hood. The Safety Office works with DES to curb cell phone violations. Heather Graham-Ashley, Sentinel News Editor

Installation Safety Officer Scott Spencer was working a shift May 16 on the corner of 62nd Street and Old Ironsides Avenue. He stood at the intersection, in a bright orange road-guard vest, with a digital camera at the ready.

Fort Hood drivers, beware: those ignoring the post-wide cell phone ban while driving should prepare to have their photos taken and turned into the Directorate of Emergency Services because officials from the Installation Safety Office have partnered with Fort Hood Police to stop cell phone use while driving on post.

Across the street from Spencer, Julie Cordova, also with the Installation Safety Office, said she was nervous the first time she was out taking photos, but believes the work is important.

“There are too many tragic injuries and too much loss of life (in collisions involving cell phone use),” Cordova said.

That day, three times after taking photos of a Soldier’s license plate, Spencer was approached the Soldiers who inquired about his actions.

“I told them they were lucky they weren’t getting $75 Magistrate tickets,” Spencer said.

Others that day were not as fortunate, as Fort Hood police who were working cooperatively in the area with the Safety teams stopped and issued tickets to drivers caught ignoring the hands-free rule. Many of those received other violations, as well.

The initiative started about six weeks ago following concerns voiced during a briefing Garrison Commander Col. Mark Freitag held with motorcycle riders from the garrison when one attendee spoke out about cell phone use and text messaging while driving.

A few days later, Spencer met with DES Deputy Director Chris Zimmer. The decision was made to partner Safety Office personnel with selective enforcement units to help curb cell phone use and text messaging while driving.

“Our goal is to reduce texting and cell phone use while driving,” Spencer said. “Fort Hood is in the middle of the pack with this. Many towns are completely banning cell phone use while driving.”

Fort Hood policy allows drivers to use the cell phones only with hands-free devices while driving. Those caught violating the policy can receive a $75 Magistrate ticket for the first offense, Fort Hood Police Lt. Jennifer Rounds said.

It is a safety issue, and Spencer said statistics have proven the dangers of driving and texting or calling.

“Insurance companies have shown a significant increase in the risk of accidents,” he said.

A few times each week, representatives from the Installation Safety Office man different intersections on Fort Hood and take photos of the license plates from cars with drivers talking on their cell phones or text messaging. The photos are then turned into police who look up the tags and send letters to the Soldiers’ sergeants major.

Spencer said Safety Officers have gotten as many as 17 violators in one hour. About one-third of those were spouses or civilians, he added.

Those who only get their photos snapped are the lucky ones since the Safety patrols partner with Fort Hood Police Selective Enforcement details.

Selective enforcement targets high-incident areas and areas where the police department has received complaints about speeding and other traffic violations, Rounds said.

“The feedback we’ve received has said this does help when an area is targeted for selective enforcement,” Rounds said, but added, “we have to patrol it regularly.”

She said the selective enforcement shifts write 60-70 tickets each week.

“They are mainly cell phone use, seatbelt and speed violations, but often we find secondary violations, as well,” Rounds, a patrol captain with DES, said.

Military police officer Staff Sgt. Kenneth Hill, 64th Military Police Company, said he likes working the selective enforcement detail.

“It gets us out on the road, interacting with people,” he said. “We get to enforce standards in line with the CG’s intent.”