During the month of April, RCMP will be teaming up with Manitoba Public Insurance for a dedicated enforcement campaign focused on distracted driving. This campaign will be aimed at drivers who continue to use hand-held devices.
On Monday, April 7, Portage la Prairie RCMP and the Portage la Prairie Crime Reduction Unit conducted a day long checkstop targeting distracted drivers in the City of Portage la Prairie. This checkstop was part of the enforcement campaign sponsored by Manitoba Public Insurance.
Plain Clothes RCMP members walked the streets of Portage la Prairie watching for people operating a motor vehicle while utilizing electronic hand held devices. Once spotted committing this Highway Traffic Act offence, drivers were stopped by a marked police car which were set up in a vicinity near the plain clothes member.
This effort resulted in 19 cell phone tickets being issued along with numerous other traffic tickets including those related to red light, stop sign and seat belt offences.
Distracted driving is dangerous offence and carries a fine of $203 as well as a penalty of 2 demerits on your driver’s licence. RCMP will be conducting random check stops during the month of April and throughout the summer to continue to combat this problem.
