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.