Just pulling out your phone for a second? Think twice, because come February 1st, the fines nearly double. In October, Saskatchewan police have issued the most amount of distracted driving in the province's history. With over 1, 290 tickets that month, police and SGI have had enough. Tougher measures have become necessary to keep people safe, and those measures are going to be enforced even more. Take note, topply texters. The gauntlet is coming down.
“When you see this many tickets being issued for anything, it tells you that enforcement is very strong, and has been for a long time,” said SGI spokesman Tyler McMurchy.
“As we've learned last week, the provincial government is increasing the cost of the penalty – the ticket for distracted driving in February of next year. So, if you hear that the cost of the ticket is going up, and you're aware that there are a lot of tickets being written, hopefully that will encourage many people to not use their cellphones or engage in other distracting activities while they're operating motor vehicles.
“The demerits aren't new; that was always the case, as were the vehicle impoundments for repeat offenders. Some people might be under the mistaken impression that those are new, but the only thing that's changing is the cost of the ticket. That's not the only consequence that results. As of February 1st, your first offense will cost you $580, and that's if you violate either of the two distracted driving laws under the Traffice Safety Act. That's either holding, manipulating, or using a handheld, mobile communications device while driving. Basically, if you're holding a cellphone in your hand, or texting on it, with your hand, or using it – holding it up to your ear – you will get a ticket.
“Now, the other one is 'Driving without due care and attention' (the name of the provincial charge), and there were a smaller number of tickets that were issued for that this past October. Typically the case is most of the distracted driving tickets are for the cellphones, but a smaller number every month are for driving without due care and attention. Now, that, is more of a catch-all term, because you couldn't write a law that covers every potential distracting activity. What police officers do is that they look for driving behaviour that indicates that that driver is not paying attention to the safe operation of their vehicle. While it's not in the Traffic Safety Act that you can't eat a bowl of cereal while driving. You can, you know, eat a chocolate bar, or a granola bar or a muffin while you drive. You can have a sip of coffee if you'd like. Just make sure that you're in control of that vehicle. So in October, 142 people were ticketed by police for not doing that [being in control].
“For either of those, the consequences are four demerit points. So, for repeat offenders, if you get more than one ticket within a year for using your cellphone while driving, you're going to get your vehicle impounded for a week. And, of course, the registered owner has to pay for the towing and impound fees, so that's another – well, several hundred dollars, likely, depending on how far the tow truck has to travel to take your car on its staycation.”
So, take heed, drivers: not only will your wheels get hauled off to car jail, you're going to be paying for both its trip as well as room and board.
The statistics are sobering, looking at the numbers for October alone. Of the 1, 290 tickets issued, 1, 148 were for using one's cellphones, and 142 under the 'Driving without due care and attention' charge.
Confused about what will and what won't get you a ticket? Check out this short video SGI did with Cst. Mike “Hawkeye” Seel of the Regina Police.
