By BC Highway Patrol

Put the phone down and put the seatbelts on.

September is the Distracted Drivers and Occupant Restraint Campaign, and BC Highway Patrol is reminding drivers across B.C. that disobeying the law is unsafe and comes with a price.

“Everybody should know by now that it’s illegal to handle your cell phone behind the wheel, and that you need to wear a seatbelt while a vehicle is driving,” said Superintendent Lori Orstad with BC Highway Patrol. “But people are creating exceptions for themselves, and that’s why we have to educate through enforcement.”

Failing to use a seat belt or child seat can turn a routine collision into a deadly event. Meanwhile, distracted driving is consistently one of the top three causes of death on BC roads alongside speeding and impairment.

Here are some of the laws and penalties you might see for the September campaign month:

• Use electronic device while driving, section 214.2(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) with a fine of $368;
• Fail to wear seatbelt, section 220(4) of the MVA with a fine of $167;
• Operate vehicle with inoperative seatbelt, section 220(3) of the BC MVA ($167);
• Child unrestrained or improperly restrained, section 36.03(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR) with a fine of $109;
• Inappropriate infant restraint system for child’s height/weight, section 36.04(2) of the BC MVAR ($109).

“Seatbelts are completely free, cost only a couple of seconds to use, and could save your life and the lives of your loved ones,” said Superintendent Orstad. “And if you handle your phone, even at a stoplight, that’s distracted driving. You are permitted only one screen touch to activate or stop a call.”

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