Burning Question: Is talking on your phone while driving worth getting a ticket?

The Transportation Department wants to get serious about stopping people from talking on handheld devices while driving.

The department plans to spend $200,000 each in Hartford, Ct., and Syracuse, N.Y., to support short-term crusades against cell phone use on the road, the New York Times "Bits" blog reports. The cities will contribute $100,000 each of their own funds to support the effort.

The campaign's central message is, "Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other." It's designed to be similar to federally funded efforts to reduce drunk driving and increase seat belt usage.

U.S. Finances 2 Projects to Combat Distracted Driving
("Bits," New York Times)

Burning Question is a recurring feature that looks at key issues and compelling stories being explored at other publications and social media sites.