Salinas Police cite hands‑free law, OTS grant to expand distracted‑driving enforcement and outreach

The Salinas Police Department said Wednesday it received a traffic‑safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and will use the funding for hands‑free enforcement, outreach and training focused on distracted driving, Sergeant Zach Dunnegan said.

Dunnegan said the change to California’s hands‑free law (he referenced an effective date in June) makes it illegal to hold a cell phone in one’s hand while driving. “It is now illegal to hold your cell phone in your hand, period, while you’re driving a vehicle,” he said, adding that a mounted device is allowed one swipe or tap for uses such as navigation but that repeated use or operating apps while behind the wheel remains unlawful.

Why it matters: Dunnegan said vehicle‑versus‑pedestrian crashes are a countywide concern and cited a year‑to‑year comparison in his remarks: “last year” he said there were 80 vehicle‑versus‑pedestrian accidents, six of them fatal; he also referenced 2024 counts, saying the city had six homicides and six vehicle‑versus‑pedestrian fatalities that year. The department plans to pair public‑education campaigns and PSAs with targeted enforcement to reduce those numbers.

Dunnegan listed several behaviors that can violate distracted‑driving rules, including holding a phone in hand, texting, watching video while driving, applying makeup, reading while driving and having a pet on a lap. He also noted that other OTS grants fund DUI checkpoints and weekend DUI enforcement, and described enforcement as a complement to education rather than a stand‑alone measure.

On rainy days and in inclement weather, he urged drivers to slow down and to remember that if windshield wipers are on, headlights must be on. Addressing new drivers, Dunnegan emphasized courteous driving, consistent use of seat belts and turn signals, and developing safe habits early.

Dunnegan’s direct quotes and the department’s statistics came from the county briefing; the department did not announce rule changes beyond the state law described nor any new local ordinance. The Salinas Police Department said OTS‑funded activities will include public education and hands‑free enforcement operations.

Next steps: the department will continue outreach and enforcement under the OTS grant; officials encouraged motorists and pedestrians to follow the updated hands‑free rules and look for department safety messaging.