Drivers using hand-held cell phones targeted in Operation HandsFree

It’s been provincial law since January 2010, but not everyone is getting the message that driving while using a hand-held cell phone or device is against the law. Saskatoon police have a message for those drivers– get off the phone while driving.

Operation HandsFree is already reaping rewards for city police. In the first 48 hours of the crack-down, 40 tickets were handed out, bringing the number of drivers caught so far this year to over 360.

At this pace, more people will be charged this year than in 2010, when 1,037 fines were handed out after a two-month grace period. 116 drivers received warnings during the grace period.

Fines are hefty for those caught –$280 along with 4 demerit points.

Studies show that drivers using hand-held cell phones and devices are at a greater risk of having an accident. Drivers are 23 times more distracted while texting and six times more distracted when on the phone.

Operation HandsFree started on March 15 and runs until the end of the month. Traffic Units are using both covert and overt tactics to find drivers still using hand-held cell phones and devices.