L&A OPP blitz on cellphone, seatbelt use while driving results in 27 charges in one day

Throughout the day on Friday, Jun. 9, 2023, officers with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) laid 27 charges in Lennox and Addington (L&A) County as part of safe driving blitz.

Specifically targeting the use of cellphones while driving (distracted driving) and improper seatbelt use, officers with the L&A Detachment of the OPP, as well as those with the OPP’s Highway Safety Division ‘Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement’ (TIME) Team patrolled L&A County on the look-out for violations.

According to the L&A OPP, officers laid 25 cellphone use charges, and two charges for failure to ensure a child is properly restrained in a moving vehicle.

Those drivers who were charged for using a cellphone while driving automatically face a $615 fine and three demerit points, with a three-day licence suspension if convicted. The driver charged with failure to properly restrain a child in a moving vehicle now faces two $240 files and two demerit points.

“While very expensive, this could have much more tragic results had the vehicle been involved in a collision,” the OPP said of the vehicle with improperly restrained children as passengers.

“The OPP would like to remind all drivers that using a handheld communication device while driving is distracted driving and can have tragic results. Drivers are encouraged to use hands-free devices only for the safety of themselves and other road users.”