Victoria police are scoping out distracted drivers with a new high-tech tool.

The device consists of a scope attached to a camera – aimed at catching drivers texting while behind the wheel.

The camera can take clear pictures up to 450 metres away.

Officers used the powerful new lenses on Gorge Road for several hours on Wednesday.

They called it a successful morning after having issued several tickets.

“People could be several hundred metres away, not even see that we’re here and by the time they realize that police officers are present, they’ve committed the offence,” Const. Andy Dunstan of the Capital Regional District’s Integrated Road Safety Unit said.“The evidence is captured and we’re able to pull them over and issue the violation ticket.”

VicPD said the scope will be very useful once the increased fines for distracted driving come into effect.

“We’ll have a long distance view of people who believe because they’re in slow moving traffic or because they’ve stopped at the light, that’s an ok time to use the device,” Dunstan added. “We will have the advantage of distance and time to be able to identify those offenders and pull them to one side.”

Dunstan also suggested that if the tool proves to be as useful as it seems to have been, they’ll likely be requesting more scopes in the future.

Starting June 1st, drivers caught on their cellphones will face a fine of $543 dollars for the first offence.