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RCMP will be cracking down on distracted driving this May long weekend.
The May long weekend always marks an increased amount of distracted driving tickets, but this year officers have a new tool to help them out.
Officers will have the chance to use new distracted driving scopes. The scopes will help police officers notice if motorists are texting or on the phone, up to 1.2 kilometres away.
The new scopes are attached to digital cameras, which means officers can snap a picture for photographic proof.
“It’s amazing how many people think they have a unique ability to drive a four thousand pound object hurtling down the road, without needing to watch where they’re going,” said Cst. Wutke.
"But that mistaken belief killed 66 people in 2014 on BC roads.”
Last year during May long weekend RCMP officers handed out 2,078 tickets for speeding, 224 drivers were stopped for being impaired, 275 tickets were handed out for people not wearing seatbelts and 199 tickets were given out for using an electronic device while driving.
Beginning on June 1 fines for distracted driving will change. A first offence will cost a driver $543.
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