The Edmonton Police Service has ticketed nearly 780 people for distracted driving in their first four months enforcing Alberta's new law. Almost all of those tickets, at 94%, were for inappropriate cellphone use behind the wheel.
Acting Staff Sergeant Barry Maron said that motorists can expect to see a crackdown in February on drivers trying to text, groom themselves or eat snacks while they navigate city streets or idle at red lights.
Up until now, Sergeant Maron said, police were not actively looking for distracted drivers. If they noticed distracted driving in addition to another offence or an egregious case of inattention, officers would issue a ticket. But they were not specifically looking for multi-tasking drivers.
"We believe it was one of those things that the public needed time to get their head around," Maron said. "It takes a long time to change your habits. Even myself, four months later, when the phone rings, you feel like you want to answer it."
Under legislation that came into effect on September 1, 2011, drivers are prohibited from talking or texting on a hand-held cellphone, personal grooming, reading or writing. Drivers are still allowed to use a cellphone if it is hands-free.
The fine distracted driving is $172. Revenue from those tickets is split between the city and the Government of Alberta.
From September to December, Edmonton police also issued 884 tickets for careless driving, which carries $402 fine and six demerit points.
The Edmonton Police Service has ticketed nearly 780 people for distracted driving in their first four months enforcing Alberta's new law. Almost all of those tickets, at 94%, were for inappropriate cellphone use behind the wheel.
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