WINDSOR, Ontario, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Ontario and British Columbia drivers caught with cellphones to their ears or writing text messages face more than $150 for each ticket, Canadian officials said.
A grace period in which several thousand warnings were issued to motorists in the two provinces ended Monday.
In British Columbia, drivers caught using a cellphone or texting face a $167 fine, while Ontario motorists face a $155 fine, The Windsor Star and Victoria Times Colonist reported. The new rules do not apply to emergency calls made to 911.
Under the new rules, motorists in both provinces are banned from using laptop computers and DVD players while driving, but they can use global positioning devices as long as the units are affixed to the dashboard. Hands-free use of iPods and MP3 players plugged into the car stereo system are permitted.
"I think this will prevent a lot of accidents," said Windsor, Ontario, resident Alannah Grylls, who uses a hands-free device to talk on her cellphone while driving.
