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The Washington State Patrol says many drivers got the message about the law allowing officers to hand out $124 tickets to anyone they see holding a cell phone to their ear.

Spokesman Bob Calkins says troopers report seeing fewer violators Thursday, when the law took effect, than they did before.

Calkins says there was no warning period for the new law because the violation had been a secondary offense for two years - when drivers were stopped for something else.

There are exceptions for people with hearing aids, making a 911 call or setting a cell phone to speaker and holding it in front of the mouth.