Tougher distracted driving penalties kicked in on Wednesday.
B.C. drivers who are caught on their cellphones while behind the wheel will now face a minimum fine of $368, which is more than double from the previous $167 ticket.
Distracted drivers will also face an additional $175 for four penalty points – bumping the total to $543 for a first offence.
Repeat offenders will be slammed with even tougher fines. A second offence within 12 months will come to $888 and $1,600 for a third.
#yyjtraffic My members are telling me distracted drivers are furious about huge fines. Too bad. Put your phone away pic.twitter.com/qAkwkh6Iwf
— Saanich PD Traffic (@SPD_Traffic) June 1, 2016
The use of any electronic device while driving will be constituted as a high-risk offence under the driver improvement program.
In 2014 distracted driving claimed 66 lives and caused more than 600 injuries in B.C.
About 10 people die each year on Vancouver Island as a result of inattention to driving.
Distracted driving kills & harms more people in BC than impaired driving, @bgibbs16. The fine doesn't seem excessive to us. #yyjtraffic
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) June 1, 2016
