Tickets soar for drivers on cell phones

California Highway Patrol citation statistics suggest that many drivers are returning to their old habit of holding their cell phone up to their ear. In July of 2008, the CHP recorded 7,779 citations for hands-free violations. The number remained relatively constant through the end of the year but then began climbing in 2009. In May, the last full month of statistics, the CHP issued 12,789 citations, a 64 percent increase over July 2008. The CHP has also issued 375 tickets for juveniles driving while talking on the phone, which is always illegal regardless of the use of a headset.