How West Bridgewater police are trying to catch you texting and driving

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- In West Bridgewater, you better think twice before texting and driving.

Lt. Tim Nixon gave Boston 25 News a behind the scenes look at how they catch people driving while distracted.

"I don't think people are going out there willfully intending to break the law,” Nixon said. “I just think they are compelled to have this instant access."

Police departments across the state are getting more aggressive to stop what AAA is calling an epidemic.

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State highway safety officials say more than 3,400 people were killed last year in distraction-related crashes. In Massachusetts alone, 40 fatalities were traced to distractions.

West Bridgewater publicizes their texting and driving stings but still catch many people doing it.

It’s an elaborate set up. There are two undercover cars acting as the spotters. Several hundred yards away, there are uniformed officers in two different locations handing out the tickets.  There are also officers in a third location on bicycles.

“The bikes are able to come up on them and see them,” Lt. Nixon explained.

One driver, who we are not identifying, took the $35 ticket and apologized.

“If you need to stop and text that bad, just pull over,” said Lt. Nixon.

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