The number of distracted-driving tickets issued around the Washington area is on the rise, reflecting a national increase in distracted-driving enforcement. Twelve states joined Virginia, Maryland and the District last year in outlawing texting while driving. The latter two also have a ban on using hand-held devices while behind the wheel.

“We’re at the point where the [Department of Transportation] was when they wanted people to buckle up,” Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said Thursday at the first anniversary of FocusDriven, the national campaign against distracted driving.