The Ontario Government is taking a stand, and it won’t pay to be on the wrong side of the law. New legislation will mark Ontario as the province with the toughest distracted driving laws in the country.
We live in a distracting world, no doubt about it. With vehicles full of Smart Phones, tablets, GPS, mp3 players and screens designed to entertain kids of all ages, it can be difficult to resist the urge to glance at a screen while driving. However, Ontario is passing new legislation that will make that “quick glance” a major source of regret.
To drive the point home, take a look at some of the other province’s maximum fines for distracted driving; in British Columbia a first offence will cost you $543.00 plus four penalty points. In Alberta the maximum fine is $287 plus three demerit points, and in Quebec the fines for distracted driving will cost you a mere $80 – $100.
In stark contrast, the new distracted driving regulations in Ontario will increase the maximum fine for a first conviction to $1,000.00 plus 3 demerit points, $2,000.00 plus 6 demerit points for a second conviction, and $3,000.00 plus 6 demerit points for third and subsequent convictions. Perhaps the harshest aspect of the new regulation is licence suspensions ranging from 3-30 days, marking Ontario as the first in Canada to impose licence suspensions for distracted driving convictions.
Considering a “cell-phone ticket” could raise your insurance rates by a minimum of 18 per cent, it is in your best interest to consult a paralegal before pleading guilty to such an offence. If you, or someone you know is caught using a hand-held device while driving, or receives a ticket for distracted driving, call Bulwark Legal Services at 226-647-9200 to receive free information before you proceed!
