Northwest Territories to impose stiffer distracted driving penalties May 1

Stiffer penalties for those caught distracted driving are coming to the Northwest Territories on May 1st.

The ban of using your wireless device while driving – which includes talking, texting, using the internet – went into effect January 2012 in the Northwest Territories. The fine is currently $322 and three demerit points. However, effective May 1st, the price will stay the same but will see an increase to a whopping $644 fine if caught distracted driving in school and construction zones.

In addition, the will be a slew of new licence suspensions. Drivers can now receive suspensions that last 24 hours, 7 days and 30 days for their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th distracted driving offences in a two-year period.

Apparently distracted driving “has been a major issue in the NWT” and this is its latest efforts to made the roads safer. Approximately 1,200 drivers have been convicted of distracted driving since 2012.

Wally Schumann, Minister of Transportation, said, “These changes to the Motor Vehicles Act will help keep our roadways safe. We are happy to work with our partners in enforcement to meet these new challenges.”

[source] NWT [/source]