Amendments – Highway Traffic Act – Cell Phones

Bill 31, which is at second reading in the provincial legislature, will amend the Highway Traffic Act to increase the fine for handling a cell phone, or other handheld device, while driving, to a minimum of $300 and not more than $1000. Fines imposed in Provincial Courts have a mandatory victim surcharge of twenty-five percent of the fine imposed. It will also attract three demerit points and become a condition placed on novice drivers within the Graduated Licensing System.

Interestingly, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld s. 78 of the Act that makes it an offence to handle a personal device while driving, even if the device is inoperable.