BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. – Berrien County law enforcement will step up patrols and increase traffic stops for motorists who text and drive.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is teaming up with The National U Drive, U Text, U Pay enforcement campaign.

The campaign goals are to conduct enforcement on laws against texting and driving and to make drivers aware through media and social media of the dangers, as well.

Officials want to remind drivers that texting while driving is dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal.

Texting and driving is dangerous because of three main distractions:

• Visual – driver taking his or her eyes off of the road
• Manual – driver taking his or her hands off the steering wheel
• Cognitive – driver taking his or her mind off the task of driving

According to officials, Michigan’s texting law restricts drivers from reading, manually typing, and sending a text message while driving. Violation of the law can be costly.

Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center said distracted driving accounted for 12,788 crashes in 2016.