Saugeen Shores, Ontario Canada
For EMERGENCIES call 9-1-1   Police Station: 519-832-2500

Operation Hands Free

January 27, 2021
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Operation Hands Free

Traffic Operation “Hands Free”

The Saugeen Shores Police Service will be conducting a traffic enforcement blitz targeting drivers who are using hand held devices.  This road safety operation will start on Friday, January 29th and end on February 12th.

What is considered distracted driving?

  • use a phone or other hand-held wireless communication device to text or dial – you can only touch a device to call 911 in an emergency
  • use a hand-held electronic entertainment device, such as a tablet or portable gaming console
  • view display screens unrelated to driving, such as watching a video
  • program a GPS device, except by voice commands

The penalties for distracted driving escalate after a first offence. According to the provincial government’s website Ontario.ca, “In Ontario, deaths and  collisions caused by distracted driving have double since 2000.”

Our officers strive to make our roads the safest they can be. Road safety is a shared effort between the police and the public. A true measure of the success of our enforcement efforts is not how many violators we contact, but how many drivers we observe or contact that are following the rules of the road.

Harsher penalties for distracted driving have been in effect since January 1, 2019.

A Class and G Class licences

First conviction:

  • a fine of $615, 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
  • 3-day suspension

Second conviction

  • a fine of $615, if settled out of court (includes a victim surcharge and the court fee)
  • a fine of up to $2,000 if a summons is received or if you fight the ticket in court and lose
  • six demerit points
  • 7-day suspension

Third and any further conviction(s)

  • a fine of $615, if settled out of court (includes a victim surcharge and the court fee)
  • a fine of up to $3,000 if a summons is received or if you fight the ticket in court and lose
  • six demerit points
  • 30-day suspension

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 longer suspensions:

  • 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***

Media Relations Officer

Sergeant Andy Evans

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