Ottawa police explain new distracted driving penalties now in place
Posted Jan 2, 2019 05:12:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Much harsher penalties for distracted driving are now in effect, meaning texting while driving could cost you your licence.
Fines for first-time distracted drivers have more than doubled — up to as much as $1,000.
And that's not all.
“Every driver convicted of distracted driving will now face driver's licence suspensions,” said Sergeant Eddie Yeoumans with the Ottawa Police Service's Traffic Unit.
He explained that after that suspension, there is also an administrative fee of nearly $200 to get your licence back.
Yeoumans said drivers have to be off the road in order to use their phones, not just stopped at a traffic light.
“I always say to drivers, 'You're telling me you're not distracted, to the point where you didn't know that I was coming up and knocking on your window.' And you see the surprise when they jump out of their skin when you tap on the window because they are that distracted,” said the sergeant.
The cost of distracted driving does not end with the fine and a licence suspension, added Yeoumans, your insurance rates are also sure to go up.
