Distracted-driving violations have fallen dramatically in Hartford, Conn., and Syracuse as a result of federally funded police programs, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said yesterday.

Cash-strapped police around the country could benefit from similar subsidies to enforce bans against talking and texting while driving, he said.

The programs in the two cities relied on $200,000 in federal money to pay police to enforce the distracted-driving laws.

Hartford had a nearly 75 percent drop in texting and driving, transportation officials said, while Syracuse saw a 33 percent drop in distracted driving.