Students should think twice before answering that call while driving, especially this month as Naperville police patrols are surging.
According to the NPD Public Information Office’s press release from April 8, the Naperville Police Department is increasing patrols in search of drivers who violate distracted driving laws throughout April.
The surge in Naperville police patrols for the distracted driving campaign is courtesy of a partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies. IDOT is funding the increased Naperville police patrols using federal traffic safety funds administered in honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Naperville police patrols logo for enforcement surges.
“During April, officers will be looking for distracted driving violations and reminding motorists to put the phone away and focus on the road,” Naperville Police Sergeant Eric Muska said in a City of Naperville press release.
NCC response
Natalie Nowak, ‘27, who is pursuing a Masters in Business Administration commented on the increase in patrols. She works as a graduate assistant for the Center for Career and Professional Development.
“I think it’d be useful to have more patrols, especially with how much phone usage has gone up. I feel like people are constantly distracted while driving. Whether it’s to change a song or use Google Maps or whatever it is,” Nowak said.
Nowak was also pulled over last Monday, March 30 on Naperville-Plainfield Road, near 75th street. This violation was not for being on the phone but instead was for speeding.
“I was just going too fast, like 20 over. I was going 65 on a 45, and I drove past the cop,” Nowak said. “But I was listening to ‘Bubble Pop Electric’ by Gwen Stefani.”
Nowak had an introspective reaction after regarding the transpiring events.
“I should probably be more aware of how fast I was driving,” Nowak said.
Funding
Nowak was asked about the use of federal traffic safety funds to deter distracted driving, but explained she’s a resident of Worth, Illinois.
“I don’t pay tax dollars to the city of Naperville, so I feel a bit removed from it,” Nowak said.
Nowak later noted her response reflected her position as a non-resident of Naperville, which connects to benchmarking between jurisdictions, or the comparison of how cities allocate and evaluate tax funding decisions.
A Hispanic female student, who requested anonymity for political reasons, had a different view on the usage of the funds.
“I believe there are other things that funding can go to, ones that are more effective than increased patrols. For example, improving the roadways and providing more funding to local schools,” the anonymous student said.
The anonymous student has never been pulled over but sees both benefits and risks in increasing patrols.
“I think that living in a college community with young drivers tends to lead to more distractions while driving, and I think with all the crosswalks, it can be dangerous to have those distractions while driving for the pedestrians. So essentially ramping up police efforts to catch distracted drivers could be a good thing, however it could also lead to marginalized groups being targeted,” the anonymous student said.
How stops are made
The concern around increased patrols is not just about safety, but also how those stops are made.
In Whren v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that officers are allowed to make traffic stops for minor violations, even if their underlying reason for the stop is something else. This means that as long as a driver commits a traffic violation, the stop is considered legal, regardless of the officer’s intent.
“I think there are biases to be concerned with regarding more patrolling and/or traffic stops, whether it’s skin color, related to age or gender. These biases are important to recognize because they can lead to wrongful outcomes, and historically in this area and also while driving in general, minority groups tend to be targeted,” the anonymous student said.
A 2021 study by Trauma and Acute Care Surgery directly counters the claim that surges in traffic stops prevent traffic deaths. The study concluded “State patrol traffic stops are not associated with reduced MVC deaths.”
Nowak agreed that the increase in patrols could lead to more unjustified stops without proper training.
“I guess if you’re looking in the vehicle to see someone’s distracted driving, there’s potential for the cop or person of authority to have a bias. And I feel like that’s where it’s hard to tell, ‘cause you don’t know inside the mind of that person, but there’s definitely room for that,” Nowak said.
Officer discretion
In practice, enforcement of distracted driving laws often will depend on what officers can reasonably observe from outside a vehicle.
According to DuPage County Criminal Lawyers, a local criminal defense firm, enforcement often relies on observable behavior. This includes the glow from a phone, hand placement, or call records.
“Naperville officers are trained to detect signs of distracted driving, such as weaving or not driving away when a light turns green. However, those alone are not necessarily a reason to stop someone, so our officers are trained to observe the driver using their cellphone or operating it illegally before making the traffic stop,” Naperville Police Department Commander Rick Krakow wrote to the Chronicle.
While obvious phone use is easier to identify, many other behaviors fall into a gray area. These include interacting with in-car screens, adjusting navigation, or momentary attention shifts during driving. Consistency in enforcement depends on the officer and the circumstances of the stop. This is because two drivers engaging in similar behavior in different situations may not always be interpreted the same way.
Nowak followed by emphasizing the chaos of Downtown Naperville could influence stops.
“I feel like in the downtown Naperville area, there are a lot of cops, so I think that’s a very easy spot, like a hub for more stops,” Nowak said.
Illinois law
The increase in Naperville police patrols abide by the Illinois statute which prohibits the use of electronic communication devices to write, send, or read text messages, emails, or other electronic communications while driving.
It is also illegal to use teleconferencing apps, watch videos, or access social media sites while driving.
However, the law becomes less clear in practice.
The Secretary of State website states Illinois law permits drivers 19 and older to use hands-free or Bluetooth technology. But the law considers even using hands-free technology a distraction while driving and implies it can be dangerous. With hands-free technology, the government still recommends that you move to the side of the road before taking a call.
Exceptions and ambiguity
Illinois drivers can use non-hands-free technology when reporting an emergency situation, while parked on the shoulder of a roadway, or, while stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or parked.
Because of these distinctions enforcement doesn’t only depend on what a driver is doing. Instead, it’s based on how an officer interprets it in the moment. These uncertainties create practical questions for how drivers interpret the law in real situations.
“If you’re at a light, wouldn’t you just be on your brake? You really wouldn’t be in the park or neutral setting,” Nowak said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last reported 3,208 distracted driving deaths in 2024. This marks a slight increase from the 3,142 deaths reported in 2019.
In 2006, an Illinois Secretary of State task force report, citing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, noted that driver inattention occurs within seconds before many crashes and near crashes.
Further synthesized research from NHTSA found that talking on a cell phone can double crash odds; while dialing and texting significantly increase crash risks. While no single factor determines crash outcomes, behaviors like distraction are often discussed in broader conversations about local driving safety.
Local safety
Naperville is statistically one of the worst cities for drivers in Illinois, as reported first in August 2025 by the Daily Herald. They also reference Cook County as home to some of the best drivers in Illinois.
“So far in 2026, we have issued 652 citations for distracted driving [in Naperville],” Krakow wrote.
According to 2025 statistics from insurance marketing platform LendingTree, Naperville was the only suburb in the bottom five of the analysis. The data reflected around 16 driving-related incidents happening per 1,000 drivers locally. This places Naperville drivers among the fourth worst in Illinois.
Rankings like these are often used as indicators of overall driving risk. These are dependent on definition and reporting data.
“Distracted driving puts everyone at risk,” Muska said, “and even a quick glance at a phone can have devastating consequences.”
Penalties
Drivers responsible for a distracted driving crash may face criminal penalties and incarceration. The fine increases every subsequent time, but if the crash involves bodily harm it would classify as a misdemeanor. If the crash resulted in the death of another, it would classify as a felony.
“Just keep following the laws you’re already following. If you’re already a careful driver, just keep doing what you’re doing. You don’t need to be extra anxious about it… I mean it’s always good to be aware and pay attention while you’re driving and not be distracted,” Nowak said.
