Bridgeport lawmaker fined for allegedly driving distracted

Posted Sept. 21, 2007
8:43 AM

Bridgeport (AP) _ A Bridgeport state lawmaker who was among scores of co-sponsors of the ban on use of cell phones in cars has been fined for allegedly driving while distracted on a cell phone.

Bridgeport police say State Representative Robert Keeley has been fined $193 after his car nearly collided with a police officer downtown.

Police say Keeley was apparently talking on his cell phone when his vehicle almost hit a police officer at the intersection of Main and Bank streets on September 12th.

Police say Keeley was fined $93 for failure to stop for a pedestrian in an intersection and $100 for driving a motor vehicle while talking on his cell phone.

Keeley says he will contest both fines.

A 2005 state law bans people from talking on cell phones while driving and carries a $100 fine. Keeley is on the long list of co-sponsors of the bill proposed by a Milford lawmaker.