The Washington Times is reporting that the number of tickets issued by the MPD to drivers using cell phones without a hands free device has increased for the third straight year.

In the first year after the law was enacted in mid-2004, the city dished out 7523 tickets. The following year the number rose to 8,358. This year, it’s 9,484. The numbers raise a host of questions about the efficacy and enforcement of this law. It’s unclear whether drivers are getting the message at all, or if officers are just clamping down more.

There’s also the question of whether or not the whole law is a boondoggle for the hands-free industry, but every time we try to raise this issue, people hang up the phone on us.

The ticket fine is $100, but first-time offenders can get it suspended by buying a hands-free accessory within a specified time.