TORONTO — Starting today, drivers in Ontario could be paying a price for texting friends, picking up a cellphone to call the boss or browsing through song selections on mp3 players.
Drivers can be forgiven for thinking Ontario’s so-called distracted driver law was already in effect — and it has been, since October — but as of 12:01 a.m. Monday the grace period ends and anyone caught breaking the law will be slapped with a $155 fine.
But if a driver challenges that ticket in court the judge has the discretion to knock it down to as low as $60 or boost it to up to $500. Similar legislation has been in effect in British Columbia since Jan. 1, but starting Monday drivers in that province caught using a hand-held cellphone could be fined $167 and people texting or emailing will net three demerit points.
“There are an awful lot of distractions in your vehicle and really, driving is a 100 per cent concentration effort at all times,” said Ontario Provincial Police Const. Graham Williamson.
“It only takes a moment of distraction for something to happen.”
There was overwhelmingly positive support from a handful of drivers on Toronto roads Sunday afternoon, especially from Farid Qayoumi, who called it “the greatest idea ever.”
“I see a lot of people make mistakes and they’re busy with messaging,” he said.
“I think they should be concentrating on the driving, not on the cellphone.”
Ed Palmer, who bravely admits using a hand-held device behind the wheel, said he hopes the law will save lives.
“I’ve done it and I’ve been lucky,” he said.
“I’ve never been in an accident, but I’ve been in situations where I’ve (said), ‘Wow, I just drove through an intersection texting somebody or talking on my phone and I didn’t even know.’ So it’s a good thing, I think.”
Palmer just got a new headset so he can use his cellphone hands-free while driving, but like many others was a little unsure what exactly is and isn’t allowed under the law.
One push of a button is a good rule of thumb, Williamson said. If you can send or receive a call to your headset with the push of one button that is allowed, he said. Scrolling through the extensive music library on your mp3 player is not.
The law, which came into effect on Oct. 26, 2009, makes it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held devices. Calls to 911 are an exception. It is also illegal for drivers to look at display screens unrelated to driving such as laptops or DVD players.
Police expect it may take some time before those bad habits can be broken, Williamson said.
“I was around in the area of policing and law enforcement when the seatbelt law came into effect back in ’76,” he said.
“And you know what? Even now, 30 odd years later, we still haven’t got full compliance. So it’s the kind of thing where it’s a long-term sort of effort.”
Since Oct. 26 provincial police have issued more than 3,300 warnings to drivers and did issue several notices for drivers to appear in court for the most egregious cases.
Chris Colucci said he hasn’t seen any improvement in the habits of his fellow drivers on the road since the law took effect in October.
“They don’t pay attention to where they’re going,” he said. “You can’t drive and talk at the same time. Especially trying to type — that’s even worse.”
Colucci believes drivers need to feel the pain in their wallet before they get the message.
“They need to really start fining before people notice the difference,” he said.