That was the tally from a recent cell phone enforcement campaign in the Bay Area.

In addition to 42 cell phone tickets, officers from the San Bruno and Millbrae police departments and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office also issued 10 illegal texting citations and 11 tickets for other violations over a 72-hour period. Most of the additional police manpower was in the Millbrae and San Bruno areas, directly south of San Francisco.

The California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration paid officer overtime and other expenses to fund the initiative.

Despite a barrage of public service advertisements and cell phone tickets, one in every 20 drivers admit to using a cell phone while driving. The actual number may be much higher, because mobile device usage is so pervasive. It is rather ironic that the American Automobile Association's webpage detailing the dangers of driving with a cell phone contains a banner ad encouraging visitors to download the AAA mobile app.

If you received a cell phone ticket for using a handheld device or texting while driving in Tulare County, there are a number of defenses.

Even if you only have a very weak defense, an attorney may be able to get the penalty reduced or the ticket thrown out.