A statewide campaign "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." is hoping to crack down on distracted driving on Connecticut roadways.

Officers, who are teaming up with the state Department of Transportation for the effort, say they are ultimately hoping drivers will put their phones down and keep their eyes on the road.

Ticketed drivers can be fined $150 for a first texting while driving offense, $300 for a second, and $500 for any offenses after that.

Extra officers will be on the roads at various checkpoints all month to keep an eye out for texting and driving or talking on the phone.

Around 3,500 people were killed and nearly 400,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015, according to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study.