In Saskatchewan, fines for electronic distracted driving more than doubled on Feb. 1, 2020. "Enough is enough," said Joe Hargrave, the minister who oversees Saskatchewan Government Insurance. A first offense will bring distracted drivers a $580 fine plus 4 demerit points vs. the license. A second offense within a year brings a $1,400 citation, plus 4 points and a weeklong vehicle seizure. A third offense brings a $2,100 fine, and another 4 points and the seizure. "Yes, the tickets are costly," Hargrave says. "Don’t want to get one? It’s easy. Put the phone down, keep your head up and focus on … [Read more...]
Quebec: Distracted driving news
August 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment
A Quebec man has been sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of killing a man and injuring two youngsters while texting & driving. Martin Carrieres exchanged 34 text messages immediately before the accident, police investigators found. The judge found "flagrant negligence" and said she wanted "to send a clear message to the public" about distracted driving. The crash occurred in March 2012. Quebec's new distracted driving penalties went into effect June 30, 2018. First-time fines for holding a portable communications device run $300 to $600, doubling for subsequent … [Read more...]
Siri a winner in Nova Scotia courts
November 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Canadian provinces continue to struggle with the specifics of their distracted driving laws. In the latest case, in Nova Scotia, the Supreme Court sided with a motorist who was ticketed for using the Siri feature on an iPhone to ask for directions. The high court ruled in late October 2015 that employing the voice-activated navigational system did not constitute "use" of the cell phone, which would be illegal. Justice Jamie Campbell said the related wording in the Nova Scotia's Motor Vehicle Act was so simple as to be unclear and behind the times. He said other provinces were more … [Read more...]
Saskatchewan deaths down after impounds
October 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Saskatchewan has seen distracted driving crashes and fatalities fall in the wake of a year-old law that allows for seizure of serial offenders' vehicles. Preliminary numbers for 2014 show "quite a significant decrease" from 2012 and 2013. In 2014, there were 26 fatalities and about 600 injuries linked to distractions, according to Saskatchewan Government Insurance. They resulted from about 3,300 collisions. In 2012, distracted/non-attentive drivers were linked to about 7,500 crashes with 69 deaths and more than 2,500 injuries. In 2010, Saskatchewan set a $280 fine for handheld cell … [Read more...]
Ontario distracted driving fine near $500
September 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Fines for Ontario drivers who plead guilty to distracted driving now begin at $490, with three demerit points. Technically, the distracted driving fines that can be imposed by a judge range from $300 to $1,000 under a law that took effect Sept. 1. The set $490 fine is for drivers who plead guilty. (It includes victim fine surcharges and court fees.) Those who are convicted also receive the points vs. the driver's license. Most distracted drivers in Ontario will receive that punishment. The update to the Highway Traffic Act -- approved by lawmakers June 2 -- is the work of transportation … [Read more...]
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