Starting on June 1, a first-time distracted driving ticket in B.C. will cost you $543.
On Monday, the B.C. Government announced these new penalties, which will be a $368 dollar fine and four demerit points of $175, meaning a total of $543. If you collect more than three points on your driving record in 12 months, ICBC charges you a Driver Penalty Point (DPP) premium.
A second distracted driving ticket within 12 months will pay $368, totalling $888 dollars.
A third offence would cost a driver more than $3,000.
WATCH: Peter Chow-White of SFU’s School of Communication discusses how to change mobile phone usage habits as new fines for distracted driving increase.
However, that driver may not reach a third offence, as starting June 1, the use of an electronic device will become a high-risk offence. That means, two or more tickets in a 12 month period will mean an automatic review of the person’s driving record and a possible driving prohibition.
New drivers will face possible prohibition after the first offence.
The B.C. government says last year, 66 people died as a result of distracted driving. A further 630 people were seriously injured.