The "Zero Tolerance" campaign runs from Modesto all the way down to the Grapevine and focuses around high schools.
Just days after turning 17 years old, Maison Eckenrod is smiling ear-to-ear as he shows off his new drivers license. The little piece of paper came with a few stipulations from his parents that even he admits he's already guilty of breaking.
"I wasn't supposed to text and drive and like have friends in the car," said Eckenrod.
In fact, every teenager CBS47 talked to on Monday admitted to breaking the law when it comes to cell phone use behind the wheel.
"Just a few times. I got scared after a cop came behind me," said Paola Aquilera, 16.
"I don't do it while driving. I do it while at a stop light or when I know that I have time," said Daniel Marquez, 16.
But Officer Sean Duncan with the California Highway Patrol says even that is against the rules.
"If you're operating a cell phone at all, it is a violation. It's not just talking," said Duncan.
So, today and tomorrow, officers like him are pulling over teenage drivers spotted texting or talking on their phones in school zones.
Duncan says because they don't have much experience, teenagers who divert their attention from the road even for a split second increase their chances of getting into an accident.
"Our ultimate goal is to lower the mileage death rate to make our streets safer for everybody," said Duncan.
The two-day campaign won't stop everyone, but Duncan hopes it'll get drivers to think twice before talking up their cell phone behind the wheel.
"Yeah, no good. 'Cause crashes can happen and what's the point of sending one text that can cost you like a ticket that can be tons of money/" said Marquez.
The base fine for the first offense is $20. $50 dollars for every offense after that. But officers say when you factor in all the extra fees, the penalty could top several hundred dollars.
The CHP says it has five officers committed to this enforcement in the Fresno-area alone, but every officer is on the lookout.
