North Bay OPP officers have charged a 34-year-old Barrie man after observing him filming the officers from his vehicle as he drove by on the highway.
Monday night, just before 9:00pm, officers from the North Bay Detachment had stopped a motor vehicle on Highway 17 in North Bay.
A vehicle, travelling on the same side of the highway as the officers, drove by, failing to slow down or move over into an unoccupied lane. Officers say that as the vehicle drove past, the driver appeared to be recording the police on the side of the highway.
The driver has been charged with driving a motor vehicle on a highway while using a hand-held wireless communication device.
Penalties for distracted driving in Ontario:
Drivers with A to G licences
If you have an A, B, C, D, E, F and/or G licence, you’ll face bigger penalties when convicted of distracted driving:
- a fine of $490, if settled out of court (includes a victim surcharge and the court fee)
- a fine of up to $1,000 if a summons is received or if you fight the ticket in court and lose
- three demerit points
Novice drivers
If you hold a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence, and are convicted of distracted driving, you’ll face the same fines as drivers with A to G licences. But you won’t receive any demerit points.
Instead of demerit points you’ll face:
- a 30-day licence suspension for a first conviction
- a 90-day licence suspension for a second conviction
- cancellation of your licence and removal from the Graduated Licensing System (GLS) for a third conviction
- to get your licence back you’d have to redo the GLS program
