THOMPSON-NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRICT
POLICY
POLICYTITLE: PERSONNEL
SUB: USE OF CELL PHONES AND OTHER HANDHELD ELECTRONIC
DEVICES WHILE DRIVING
Effective Date: Amendment Date:
January 1, 2010
(Approved)
Policy Statement:
1)
• Cell-phones
• Blackberries
• p
2) ee phones provided they are built-in or securely
by pressing a single-button (once only) in order to
3) Emp ny of the above-noted devices if they are legally parked
and not di g l IC. Employees are encouraged to pull-over and park (when
safe to do .when using hands-free devices, particularly if conversations
become tec I or emotional in nature.
4) Employees are required to comply with all federal and provincial legislation while
carrying out their duties and shall be responsible for any infractions including
fines or other sanctions. Employees who do not respond to emails or phone calls
while driving will not be subject to disciplinary action.
Page 1 of 1 Policy No. 6.11
NEW LAW CRACKS DOWN ON DISTRACTED DRIVING Page 1 of3
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BRITISH
COLUMBIA
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
2009PSSG0028-000513
October 21, 2009
NEW LAW CRACKS DOWN ON DISTRACTED DRIVING
VICTORIA - B.C. roads will be safer following legislative changes to prevent the use of hand- held
cellphones, portable electronic devices and text messaging while driving, Solicitor General Kash Heed
announced today.
"We're taking action today because British Columbians have made it clear they support stronger
restrictions on cellphones and other devices that take a driver's hands off the wheel and their eyes from
the road," said Heed. "Simply put, you cannot talk, type or dial on any hand-held device while driving."
Changes to the Motor Vehicle Act (MY A) upon legislative approval are to take effect on Jan. 1,
2010. At that point, only hands-ftee cellphones and devices that require one touch to activate will be
permitted. Drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) will not be permitted to use hands-free
phones in addition to other prohibited activity.
A new fine in the amount of$167 will begin to be levied on Feb. 1,2010. If drivers are caught
texting or emailing they will receive an additional three penalty points. Further, drivers in the GLP will
receive the $167 fme and three penalty points for any violation of this legislation.
"As physicians, we often see the consequences ofthose injured in a car crash because a distracted
driver was using a cellphone," said Dr. Brian Brodie, president ofthe BC Medical Association. "This is
preventative legislation that focuses on being responsible with new technology in a way that doesn't put
people's lives at risk."
Clayton Pecknold, vice-president ofthe B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police said, "Police have
been looking forward to these changes because it gives us another enforcement tool to create safer roads
in this province."
According to independent research and studies, cellphone use while driving is the number-one
cause of distracted driving. On average, about 117 people die each year in B.C. and 1,400 are sent to
hospital because someone was not paying attention behind the wheel.
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/newsJeleases_2009-2013/2009PSSG0028-000513.htm 10/27/2009
NEW LAW CRACKS DOWN ON DISTRACTED DRIVING Page 2 of3
In the corning months, government will launch an awareness campaign to educate drivers on the
new law and the importance of paying attention to the road, pedestrians and other cars around them.
-30-
A backgrounder follows.
Contact: Public Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province's news feeds using RSS,
visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca.
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news _releases _2009-20 13/2009PSSG0028-000513.htrn 10/27/2009
NEW LAW CRACKS DOWN ON DISTRACTED DRIVING Page 3 of3
BACKGROUNDER
Oct 21,2009 Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
MOTOR VEHICLE ACT CHANGES
Prohibited actions and devices
• No operating or holding hand-held cellphones or other electronic devices.
• No sending or reading emails and/or texting (e.g., BlackBerry, PDA, cellphone).
• No operating or holding hand-held music or portable gaming devices (e.g., MP3 players, iPods).
• No manual programming or adjusting GPS systems, whether built into the vehicle or not, while
driving. Settings must be programmed before driving.
Permitted actions and devices
• Hands-free cellphones that are built in or securely fixed to the vehicle, and used by pressing a
single button - once only - in order to activate a hands-free device for incoming or outgoing calls.
• Pre-programmed and voice-activated GPS devices.
• Two-way radios for industry (e.g., trucking, logging, oil and gas).
• Any of the above devices can be used if the vehicle is legally parked and not impeding traffic.
• Call 9-1-1 to report an emergency.
Graduated License Drivers (GLP)
• In addition to the above restrictions and permitted actions, new drivers are prohibited from using
hands-free communications devices, (e.g., cellphones), while driving.
Exemptions to the legislation include police, fire and ambulance personnel who may need to
make calls in the performance of their duties, and motorists who need to call 9-1-1.
These changes bring British Columbia in line with the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Alberta recently announced that it intends to
introduce similar distracted driving legislation this fall.
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Contact: Public Affairs Bureau
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250356-6961
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/newsJeleases_2009-2013/2009PSSG0028-000513.htm 10/27/2009