As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, South Lake Tahoe police officers will be joining more than 200 other local law enforcement agencies in a monthlong zero tolerance enforcement campaign to curb texting or operating hand-held cell phones while driving.

Special high visibility enforcement operations to cite cell phone violators will take place on April 3, 8, 17 and 22.

The increased enforcement aims to persuade drivers to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of people impacted by this perilous behavior.

The minimum ticket is $161, with subsequent tickets costing at least $281.