Traffic Enforcement Campaign

North Bay Police Service Conducting Enhanced Traffic Enforcement Campaign

The North Bay Police Service is conducting an enhanced traffic enforcement campaign targeting distracted driving throughout the month of November.

Since the start of the month, the North Bay Police Service has already laid five charges of Drive – Hand-Held Communication Device, contrary to Section 78.1(1) of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.

Distracted driving is a serious concern on roadways throughout Ontario. According to the Government of Ontario, approximately one person is injured in a distracted-driving-related collision every half-hour in the province. While checking your phone may seem insignificant to you, a driver using their phone while operating a motor vehicle is four-times more likely to crash than a driver who is focused on the road.

Penalties are significant for this charge. The minimum fine for a first offence is $615, three demerit points on your license, as well as a three-day licence suspension upon conviction. The fine can increase up to $1,000 if a summons is received or if you fight the ticket in court and lose. Additionally, motorists convicted of the offence will need to pay a $281 licence reinstatement fee to regain their driving privileges. Since 2019, insurance companies consider a Distracted Driving conviction a major offence, and may significantly increase rates for up to three years as a result.

There are, of course, exceptions to the use of smartphones while driving. You can take calls if they are hands-free. You can also mount your phone to your dash in order to use certain applications, such as a GPS while you are driving. If you are driving with a passenger, ask them to answer your phone, change a song, or send a text for you so you can stay focused on the road.

The North Bay Police Service’s Traffic Section is deployed throughout the city, targeting known problem areas for enforcement.

“This enhanced enforcement campaign is meant to draw attention to the serious consequences of driving while distracted and to hold people accountable for the decisions they make while behind the wheel,” said North Bay Police Service Inspector Jeff Warner. “It takes a matter of seconds for a child to run out into the street unexpectedly or for the driver in front of you to suddenly stop. By having your eyes diverted from what’s in front of you, life altering tragedies can occur. I want to thank our officers who are out targeting Highway Traffic Act violations in an effort to make our roads safer for everyone in our community.”

Anyone with information regarding traffic violations or problem areas within the City of North Bay can provide this information to the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555 and press 5 to speak with an officer or by e-mail to nbpstraffic@northbaypolice.on.ca.