A lorry driver spotted twice using his mobile phone within the space of half an hour was among more than 60 motorists stopped by officers during a covert operation in Mansfield and Ashfield.
The reckless driver was first seen holding his phone by a police observer travelling in a lorry along the A38 on the morning of Thursday 29 January.
Unbeknown to the driver, he initially avoided sanction because pursuing officers were unable to locate him.
Unaware of his earlier brush with the law, the man was spotted again as he left Castlewood Business Park – still holding his phone to his ear.
The operation, which ran from Monday to Friday, formed part of ongoing local roads policing activity in Mansfield and Ashfield, with officers directly targeting key issues of local concern.
After patrolling routes including the A60, A38 and the M1 motorway, officers issued 32 tickets for mobile phone offences and a further 23 to motorists not wearing seatbelts.
Three arrests were made for drink and drug driving, while another suspect was detained in connection with a domestic violence offence in the West Midlands.
Two unroadworthy vehicles were seized, along with another that was found to be a cloned vehicle.
Sergeant Jim Carrington, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said:
“Using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel greatly increases your risk of being involved in a collision.
“It may not seem like a big deal to some of the people we pull over, but it really is.
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“On a personal level, I have attended the scenes of multiple fatal and serious injury collisions where mobile phone use was a contributing factor, so I know only too well the potential consequences of that brief phone call, text message or map adjustment.
“Drivers should also be aware that this offence now carries a £200 fine and six penalty points, which can have huge personal and professional consequences.
“Sadly, there are still far too many people taking these risks, which is why we will continue to carry out this type of operation in the future.
“I urge all drivers to ensure their phone is either put away during journeys or appropriately mounted and connected to a hands-free system.”
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