Salem police issue 18 citations in 2 and a half hours for driving while using a phone

(Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Salem police last Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and noon reported issuing more than a dozen citations for using a phone while driving.

As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Salem Police Traffic Team spent that period on April 7 in the downtown area focused on spotting distracted drivers, according to department spokeswoman Angela Hedrick.

A data graphic showed Salem police issued 18 citations for driving a motor vehicle while using a…