VernonBlog: 20,000 B.C.'s drivers ticketed for cellphones

Thursday, October 21, 2010

20,000 B.C.'s drivers ticketed for cellphones

CBC News Thursday, October 21, 2010 |
Thousands of B.C. drivers are paying the price for talking on their cellphones while driving, or for having a drink before hitting the road, the latest government figures show. According to numbers released by the Public Safety Ministry on Thursday, nearly 20,000 drivers have been ticketed for using hand-held devices in the first six month after enforcement began in February. The fine for a first offence is $167. The data also shows B.C.'s tough new laws that came into effect just last month have already resulted in more than 1,400 penalties for drunk driving, and more than 400 tickets for excessive speeding and the impoundment of nearly 1,700 vehicles. The province has also promised to spend $450,000 over the coming holiday season to help police departments operate their Counterattack road blocks, the ministry announced.

Police union critical of new laws

But the Vancouver Police Union has been critical of the new impaired driving laws, claiming they're forcing police to focus on social drinkers instead of problem drunks. B.C. has Canada's harshest impaired driving laws, including a 90-day driving ban and a $500 fine for anyone who refuses a breathalyzer test or blows over 0.08 blood alcohol level. As well, offenders will have their vehicles impounded for 30 days and may also face criminal charges. Drivers caught in the warning range between 0.05 and 0.08 will face an immediate, three-day driving ban and a $200 fine. Those caught going 40 kilometres per hour over the speed limit will have their vehicles impounded for a week.
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OVER 21,000 SANCTIONS ISSUED UNDER NEW SAFE DRIVING LAWS

Distracted Driving:

B.C.’s new distracted driving legislation came into effect on Feb 1 of this year. With the changes, drivers who talk or text while driving can face fines of $167.00. The table below is a summary of tickets handed out, province wide, to motorists in the first six months.

Distracted Driver Violation Tickets Feb. – July 2010
Month	Tickets Processed
February	2,479
March	3,358
April	3,026
May	3,472
June	3,675
July	3,450
Total	19,460

Impaired Driving:

B.C.’s new impaired driving laws came into effect on Sept 20, 2010. Under the new rules, motorists can lose their driver’s licence, have their vehicle impounded, and pay costs that range from $600 to $4,060. The table below is a regional breakdown of the sanctions for impaired driving handed out to B.C. motorists in the first three weeks since the legislation took effect.

Impaired Driving - Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP)
Region	3-day IRP (.05 -.08 BAC)	90 day IRP (over .08 BAC)	TOTAL IRPs
Lower Mainland	254	363	617
Vancouver Island	101	161	262
Southern Region	109	144	253
North	51	105	156
Total	515	773	1,288

Excessive Speeding:

Under new excessive speeding rules, which also came into effect Sept 20, 2010, motorists who speed excessively (drive 40km/h or more over the posted speed limit) can have their vehicle impounded for seven days, 30 days on a second offence, or 60 days for subsequent offence within two years. They can also face towing and impoundment costs.

The table below is a regional breakdown of excessive speeding sanctions issued in the first three weeks since the new rules came into effect.