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Demerits and increased fines coming for distracted driving
March 23, 2015 | Categories: Canadian Road Safety News Digest, News
Last Updated on April 10, 2015
Calgary Herald (CALGARY, ALBERTA)
Drivers in Alberta caught texting behind the wheel, or grooming, programming a GPS or talking on a hand-held cellphone, will soon be hit with demerit points and bigger fines after a private member’s bill unanimously passed third reading at the Alberta legislature on Monday.
Bill 204, the Traffic Safety (Distracted Driving Demerit) Amendment Act, was introduced in December. Once the bill is proclaimed, distracted driving fines will jump to $250, from $172, and distracted driving tickets will come with a three-demerit point penalty.
The bill received widespread support from all parties, and police chiefs in Calgary and Edmonton endorsed the bill.