Distracted driving tickets became a lot more expensive at the beginning of February in Saskatchewan. Some critics say higher fines disproportionately affect people living in poverty.

A judge has sided with a Victoria woman who appealed her fine for having her plugged-in phone sitting on her lap at a red light.

Distracted driving laws have been in effect in Alberta since September 2011.

While the cost of tickets has increased, the laws surrounding distracted driving on Saskatchewan roads remain the same.

Fines for distracted driving in Saskatchewan are more than doubling on Feb. 1, with a ticket for a first offence increasing to $580.

Saskatchewan averaged nearly 140 fatalities per year between 2009-2018, SGI said.

The number of distracted driving charges laid by Calgary police in 2019 dropped dramatically from the year before.

Over 500 distracted driving tickets were issued by police in December.

Burlington OPP Sgt. Kevin Westhead said he was at his cruiser for a traffic stop on the QEW near Guelph Line on Thursday evening when he noticed a driver texting right beside him.

After leading the SPS traffic unit for two years, Staff Sgt. Patrick Barbar said there are multiple factors contributing to a drop in fatalities in Saskatoon.