Maine State Police are taking a new tack to enforce Maine’s distracted driving law, using an unmarked van to catch motorists in the act of texting behind the wheel.

According to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, a four-hour patrol of the van on Interstate 95 in southern Maine, including stretches through Scarborough and South Portland, netted 23 citations this past week.

“As one trooper drove the van, a second sat in the back observing other driver’s activities as they passed by,” McCausland said in a press release, adding that while texting was the most common item competing with the road for driver’s attention, motorists also were cited for eating, using the phone, and even reading.

“All affected their operation,” said McCausland. “It was the largest number of motorists cited by State Police for distracted driving since the no-texting law went into effect last fall.

“The public sees this every day,” said McCausland, “but the problem is that police in marked cruisers are at a disadvantage because this activity is quickly put away.”

Despite the ban on texting that became effective Sept. 26, 2011, According to the Bureau of Highway Safety, Maine highway deaths are tending up 50 percent. There have been 21 fatalities so far in 2012, compare to 14 to this point last year.

Although most of the recent deadly accidents were attributed to weather conditions, McCausland says the most recent, late Wednesday in Eddington, may have been caused by distracted driving.

Penobscot County deputies say Tracy McPhee, 44, of West Enfield died when her car left the road and slammed into a tree.

“An examination of her cell phone showed she had been texting moments before the crash,” said McCausland.

The fine for a first violation of Maine’s new anti-texting law is $100 and McCauseland said troopers will continue writing tickets.

“This will not be the only time that the van or other type of vehicle will be used to catch motorists who are not doing what they are supposed to behind the wheel,” said McCausland.