A woman stopped at a traffic light in downtown St. Paul kept looking down at her lap. Then, as she started driving, she picked up her phone and put it into a mount on her dashboard.

St. Paul officer Francisco Ortiz, who was on patrol and one lane over, saw it all on Thursday morning. He pulled the 42-year-old over on the first day that Minnesota’s hands-free law took effect.

The woman told Ortiz she was holding her phone to get directions and didn’t know about the new law, which says drivers cannot hold a cellphone to talk, navigate or use applications.

Other drivers also told Ortiz, “I didn’t know,” when he pulled them over, and then gave them a warning and information about the new law.

Did people miss a large public awareness campaign that included billboards, TV and radio interviews, and social media posts about the hands-free law? Ortiz said he’s willing to give drivers the benefit of the doubt.

But Col. Matt Langer, Minnesota State Patrol chief, said he would “be very surprised if someone was unaware” because of all the public education. Still, he said their work won’t stop.

“We still talk about seat belts and impairment and … speeding and those laws have been on the books for a long time …, so the education will continue and the enforcement will also continue,” Langer said as he spoke at the Capitol rotunda, where he was joined by people carrying large photographs of their loved ones who were killed by distracted drivers. They channeled their grief into action and pushed for the new law.

Distracted driving contributes to an average of 45 deaths and 204 life-changing injuries a year in Minnesota, according to state records.

ST. PAUL OFFICERS ISSUING WARNINGS FOR FIRST 12 DAYS

The State Patrol issued its first citation under the hands-free law in the west metro about 2 a.m. Thursday, Langer said.

On Thursday morning, Eagan police tweeted: “No joke, this driver was texting about the ‘hands free law’ while I was watching her in the next lane. She then put phone up to her ear to make a call. Thanks for spreading the word but COME ON! She was given a citation #HandsFreeMN”

RELATED: What you should know about MN’s new hands-free driving law — and how to avoid a ticket

St. Paul police traffic enforcement officers are always looking for distracted drivers, and the department plans an upcoming increased focus on the new law.

Through Aug. 12, St. Paul police are mostly educating drivers. They will be giving warnings to people they find violating the hands-free law, though officers who see “egregious” driving behavior can still issue tickets, said Sgt. Joshua Moore, supervisor of the traffic and pedestrian unit.

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St. Paul officers pulled over 28 people who were violating the hands-free law during the day on Thursday. All but two were warned — one driver who was using Instagram and another who was texting were cited, according to a police spokesman.

IF OFFICER SEES YOU HOLDING PHONE, YOU CAN BE PULLED OVER

Ortiz, who is assigned to the St. Paul traffic unit, patrols in uniform from behind the wheel of a bright orange Dodge Charger. There’s a small police badge on the car’s right door and emergency lights that Ortiz activates for traffic stops, but it’s otherwise not immediately recognizable as a police car.

Still, the car’s presence isn’t a secret. Ortiz brings it to community events and he’s seen social media posts along the lines of, “If you haven’t seen the orange police car, you’re not from St. Paul” and people who call it “the pumpkin police car.”

Ortiz is on the look-out for distracted drivers and he often finds people with their heads buried in their phones when he pulls alongside them at traffic lights.

It’s been illegal in Minnesota since 2008 to text and drive, including while stopped at a red light, but Ortiz said he still finds people doing it constantly. Some people hold their phones at steering-wheel level as they type, but others try to hide it and have their phones in their laps.

In the past, officers would have to figure out whether a person was texting or dialing a phone number to make a call (which was previously allowed), but the new law makes it more clear-cut for officers — if they see a driver holding a phone for any reason, they can pull him or her over, Moore said.

“I think this is what was needed, no doubt about it,” Ortiz said Thursday as he patrolled. “We have far too many people being distracted on their phones, whether they’re making a call, texting, typing into their GPS or pulling up music on their phone.”

‘YOU CAN’T JUST PUT PEOPLE’S LIVES IN DANGER’

After Ortiz saw a driver handling his phone on Snelling Avenue, near Selby Avenue, on Thursday, the officer pulled him over.

“I was holding my phone, but I was just looking for some songs,” the man responded. Ortiz said he had the impression the man was unaware of the new law. He gave him and other drivers a pamphlet about the law.

Soon after, Ortiz saw another driver talking on his phone in the same area. The man said he knew about the law, but forgot it took effect Thursday.

RELATED: MN drivers: If you want to use your phone in the car, you may need a mount. Here are some options.

At University Avenue and Rice Street, Ortiz pulled alongside a driver who was talking on his cellphone. The 43-year-old was not holding his phone, but he had earbuds in both ears.

Obedo Normil said he was aware of the new hands-free law, but didn’t know it’s only legal to use a headphone on one ear and not both. He said he usually relies on Bluetooth technology to safely use his cellphone in his car.

Normil, a delivery driver, sees people texting and driving — and swerving all the time. He thinks the hands-free law is important.

“It’s a good thing they’re enforcing it,” he said Thursday morning. “You can’t just put people’s lives in danger. Come on, it’s common sense.”

HANDS-FREE LAW 101