OSOYOOS TIMES-January 6, 2010
On Jan. 1, British Columbia joined six other Canadian provinces by bringing a new law into effect that bans the use of hand-held cellphones or text-messaging devices while driving.
Drivers can still use hands-free devices that are activated by a single touch to a button and motorists who need to make a 911 call are exempt from the legislation.
The fine for being caught while talking on a handheld cellphone or other electronic device will be $167 and that penalty will come into effect on Feb. 1.
Anyone caught texting or emailing while driving will be subject to three penalty points.
Until Feb. 1 arrives, police will be enforcing these new policies across the province.
Any pedestrian, cyclist or motorist who has been in a crash or has come close to being hit by a vehicle because a driver was too busy yapping into a phone instead of paying attention to the road will welcome these laws.
The big question that frequently came up when B.C. first began considering this law, or when other provinces brought similar legislation into place, was how difficult will it be to enforce the policy?
More than one person has argued that it might be hard for police to detect whether someone is talking on a cellphone or texting while driving.
Similar concerns arose this spring when a new law came into effect giving police the authority to ticket anyone smoking in a vehicle when a child under the age of 16 was present.
For both laws, it is likely there will be difficulties in detecting when someone is breaking the rules.
The response to these arguments and concerns is quite simple:
Whether such behaviours are difficult to enforce or not, the driving rules relating to cellphones and smoking are laws and, whether we like them or not, it’s our responsibility to follow them.
If it were difficult for police to enforce laws relating to murder, would it be OK to break them?
We all agree to live in a country where laws exist and, easily enforceable or not, we have an obligation to follow them.
