The North Bay Police Service has concluded its November enhanced traffic enforcement campaign targeting distracted driving.
Throughout November, they laid seven charges of "Drive – Hand-Held Communication Device."
Each charge comes with a $615 fine on the first offence, as well as three demerit points, a three-day licence suspension upon conviction and a $281 licence reinstatement fee. If a driver challenges the ticket in court and loses, the fine can increase up to $1,000.
According to the Government of Ontario, approximately one person is injured in a distracted-driving-related collision every half-hour in the province.
"While checking your phone may seem insignificant to you, a driver using their phone while operating a motor vehicle is four-times more likely to crash than a driver who is focused on the road," according to a police release.
In addition, NBPS has trained additional officers in the use of radar and lidar (laser) for speed enforcement.
"The North Bay Police Service’s traffic officer has been busy both on the roads and training officers at North Bay Police Service headquarters. Throughout this fall and winter, 31 North Bay Police Service officers have been trained in the use of lidar and radar. This contingent of officers significantly enhances the Service’s ability to conduct speed enforcement throughout the city. Training will continue over the coming months with the goal of all front-line officers being qualified to use radar and lidar while out on patrol" says the release.
Local police utilize both stationary and mobile radar and lidar devices in their traffic enforcement efforts. Radar transmits a continuous conical beam of radio waves toward a moving vehicle, while lidar uses a focused pulsed laser beam of infrared light.
Both radar and lidar operate at the constant speed of light, approximately 300,000 km per second. Radar has an operating range of over 900 metres. Lidar’s operating range is twice that of radar, at over 1,800 metres. Radar is often used by officers when their vehicle is moving while out on patrol, while lidar is used when a police vehicle is stationary.
“Our dedicated traffic officer has only been in the role for a few months, but is already making a significant difference on the streets of North Bay and here in the police service,” said Jeff Warner, Inspector of Operations. “The addition of 31 radar- and lidar-trained officers greatly increases our ability to keep our streets safe and ensure motorists are following the rules of the road. We have also seen a number of steep fines being laid for distracted driving. You may think that checking that text will only take a second, but that second is all it can take for a car in front of you to unexpectedly brake, a cyclist to swerve unexpectedly, or, worst of all, a child to run into the roadway. Keep your eyes where they should be while driving: on the road.”
How to Provide a Traffic Tip
Anyone with information regarding traffic violations or problem areas within the City of North Bay can provide this information to the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555.
