Law enforcement in the Marshall area have been giving out more warnings than citations during the first couple weeks of the new hands-free cellphone law.

But officials warn that could change as time goes on and drivers become more familiar with the law.

Since Aug. 1, the Marshall Police Department has given out 14 warnings and two citations for hands-free phone violations, said Marshall Public Safety Director Jim Marshall.

“We’re hoping people continue to make the effort” to keep their cellphones out of their hands while driving, he said.

Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen said the Sheriff’s Office has given four warnings to drivers so far. Part of the smaller number of reported violations could have to do with the fact that sheriff’s deputies are more often traveling on area highways where the traffic is faster and more spread out, Wallen said.

“Our goal is more to educate people on the new laws,” at least at first, Wallen said. But the longer the law is in place, he warned, “It’s harder to make an excuse that you are unaware.”

Marshall said the hands-free law will be easier to enforce than previous distracted driving laws. For example, it wasn’t always obvious whether a person was actually texting while driving. Now, he said, officers just need to see whether a driver has a phone in their hand.

Marshall said he thought the public response to the new Minnesota law has been positive so far. And other states that have moved to hands-free phone laws have seen a reduction in traffic fatalities, he said. Minnesota became the 19th state with a hands-free law when it took effect Aug. 1. Fines are $50 for the first offense and $275 for each subsequent violation, plus court costs.

Minnesota Department of Public Safety officials said officers cited 678 drivers across the state during the first week of the new hands-free cellphone law.

The Star Tribune reported that officers handed out 286 citations in Hennepin County, or about 40 percent of the total tickets issued.

State Patrol Lt. Gordon Shank said he hopes to see the number of citations decline as people realize police are pulling over drivers who fail to put down their devices while behind the wheel. He said he issued a warning to a driver from out of state who didn’t know about the law.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report