Sumter Police Unveil Anti-Texting Mobile

SUMTER, S.C (WOLO) — For the first time, the Sumter Police Department puts its brand new text mobile on the streets in an effort to get motorists’ attention about the dangers of texting while behind the wheel. The $2,000 paint job, courtesy of Farmer’s Telephone Company and Sign Wave, wraps a patrol car with the words: U TEXT, WE TKT, GET THE MSG? Officials say they they hope the vehicle educates the community about the city’s new texting ban, passed in May. Cops want the community to police itself before they have to intervene. Therefore, citations will not be written for another six months; however, violators, after that time, will be fined $100. For now, officers plan to issue warnings. The announcement came Wednesday morning at Sumter High School. The car was flanked by high schoolers, primarily new drivers, whom the car is intended to target. Students we spoke with say seeing the text mobile makes them think twice about being distracted while driving.