OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) is alerting residents to operations scheduled to be conducted on distracted driving from January 17 through January 31.
According to OHP, the mobilization is dedicated to and inspired by Trooper Nicholas Dees, who was killed by a distracted driver on January 31, 2015. Police officials say Trooper Dees and Trooper Keith Burch were investigating a collision involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 40 in Seminole County near the Pottawatomie County line.
The case led to the “Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015,” which states in part, “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway within this state while using a handheld electronic communication device to manually compose, send, or read an electronic text message while the motor vehicle is in motion,” said OHP officials.
Distracted driving is set to be conducted in troops throughout the state, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies…