The British Columbia Government has put forward a bill called the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2009 which will prevent drivers from using hand held cell phones, sending text messages and blackberry emails while driving.  The Rules would also eliminate the use of portable game players and ipods by drivers.

Drivers caught violating these rules will be given a $167.00 fine.  A driver caught texting or emailing will also receive three penalty points on his or her driver's license.

The British Columbia Government is pursuing these measures to promote safer driving.  Four Provinces have already banned the use of hand held cell phones by drivers, those being Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec and Ontario.

There are some exceptions to the general rules, which would include the ability to call 911 in the case of an emergency.  A driver is also allowed to legally park their vehicle and use the device in question as long as he or she is not impeding traffic.

Have a comment? We would welcome your comments directly. lzacharias@bakernewby.com