RCMP cracking down on cellphones and other driving do-nots

NEWS/ POLICE — Kamloops drivers tempted to use their cellphones illegally or engage in other driving no-nos might want to take a lesson from a short enforcement project conducted by the RCMP Traffic Unit on Sunday.

Cpl. Cheryl Bush said police operated at three different locations and used plain clothes officers to identify offenders. The focus was on priority based causal factors of serious injury collisions, three of those being no seatbelts, distracted driving, and red light infractions.

Throughout the enforcement there were 14 seat belt tickets issued, eight cell phone tickets, a red light, two drivers failing to display their N, two other moving violations, two vehicle defect tickets and eight notice and orders issued as warnings to drivers for minor defects.

Distracted driving enforcement will continue throughout the month of September in conjunction with ICBC Road Safety and the City of Kamloops Community Safety Volunteers, Bush said.

Volunteers will conduct cell watch at various locations throughout the city, capturing the number of drivers observed using their cell phones. They’ll start Tuesday Sept. 16 in the area of Columbia Street and Third Avenue.

“Their intent is to have a presence and hopefully remind drivers to leave their phones alone,” said Bush.

On the following day, police will conduct enforcement at the same location to re-enforce the message. They may utilize plain clothes officers during these operations to observe drivers who continue to use their cell phones.