BC's distracted driving legislation has been around for a year--but many drivers still aren't getting the message. Constable Steve Ouston from the North Okanagan Traffic Service says many drivers are still taking chances by talking or texting on cell phones. "It's a big issue. I know personally on my days off, driving in my own vehicle, I see many, many people still using their cell phones." Ouston
says local police held an enforcement blitz last month, and 50 drivers were caught in the act, resulting in a 167 dollar fine. "We have to visually see them operating (the device), either by talking or texting on the phone. The traffic cars are all equipped with video cameras so this also aids in our prosecutions." He says some of the activity goes undetected. "The general public (a driver) could text below the widow line and we wouldn't see it so we have some plans in the near future to address that." Ouston says that could include having officers sit on street corners watching for violators. Police also handed out 70 tickets last month for people not wearing seatbelts, also a $167 penalty.
BC's distracted driving legislation has been around for a year--but many drivers still aren't getting the message. Constable Steve Ouston from the North Okanagan Traffic Service says many drivers are still taking chances by talking or texting on cell phones. "It's a big issue. I know personally on my days off, driving in my own vehicle, I see many, many people still using their cell phones." Ouston says local police held an enforcement blitz last month, and 50 drivers were caught in the act, resulting in a 167 dollar fine. "We have to visually see them operating (the device), either by talking or texting on the phone. The traffic cars are all equipped with video cameras so this also aids in our prosecutions." He says some of the activity goes undetected. "The general public (a driver) could text below the widow line and we wouldn't see it so we have some plans in the near future to address that." Ouston says that could include having officers sit on street corners watching for violators. Police also handed out 70 tickets last month for people not wearing seatbelts, also a $167 penalty.
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