As of the 15th of July Manitobans who talk on their cellphones or text while driving will be fined $199.80. The amendments to the Highway Traffic Act also prohibit smoking in a vehicle when a child under the age of 16 is present.
Manitoba minister of transportation reckons that the new measures aim at preventing car accidents and promoting healthier living for children.
Even though there are no plans at the moment to have targeted enforcement of the ban, Winnipeg police officers have been asked to pay special attention to people using phones while on the road during the next few days. Police said they are looking for people on their cellphones who are driving poorly. Drivers caught talking on hand-held cell phones will not lose merits on their license and will only be given tickets.
Even if you’re not texting or talking on the phone while driving, you can still be ticketed just for holding the phone in their hands while behind the wheel. It needs to be put in a holder that’s affixed to the car. It can’t be lying on your lap and you can’t hold it, police officers say.
Manitoba joins the ranks of several other provinces that currently have similar bans in place, including Ontario and British Columbia. The new Manitoba law permits people to use cellphones while driving if the equipment is a hands-free device that is used in a hands-free manner, said provincial officials.
Many Manitobans have already switched to hands-free devices, but a number of drivers are still talking and texting using hand-held devices. People using hand-held phones must pull over and have their vehicle in park to talk. People can only use a hand-held cellphone while driving in emergencies to contact fire, ambulance or police services under the new law.
Distracted driving is still a big problem in Ontario. It is one of the most common cases of provincial offence. Since the law banning drivers from using distracting electronic devices was passed in February, Ontario provincial police have issued 2,279 distracted driving charges. It seems like drivers are not getting the message when it comes to distracted driving. Last month, Toronto provincial police issued 4,400 provincial offence drivers in the first three months of enforcing the new law.
The three most common type of charges under the new distracted driving law are:
Ontario Drivers caught using one of these electronic communications to do things such as texting or talking while driving face a fine of $155. Moreover, if the police officer deems it proper, they could lay more serious charges such as careless driving or dangerous driving. The maximum fine for a ticket is $500. Tickets must be served within 30 days of the distracted driving offence. If you are served with one, you should pay it within 15 days of its receipt. The easiest way to deal with your distracted driving ticket is to pay your fine to the relevant authority. Payment of your fines means you are admitting your guilt, but it in most cases it will not result in a criminal record. If you do not pay the fine within this time limit, they may receive a Provincial Offence Notice Part III, which is a court summons.
Distracted drivers are dangerous because they are the ones that travel at irregular speed, and are all over the road, interfering with other drivers who have their children in the car and want to drive sensibly and reach their destination safely.
