BC Police want to make 24-hour seizures of mobile phones from distracted drivers
 

i can only imagine the anger when this actually happens to someone...cell/smart phones are like an extension of our frickin lives nowadays.




Police are seeking the power to seize mobile phones from distracted drivers and keep them for 24 hours, according to a report by 24 Hours.

The B.C. Chiefs of Police Association reportedly passed a motion Thursday to request changes to provincial laws.

"That means, on the roadside, we drop your phone into a seizure bag then you can show up at the police station 24 hours later to pick it up," Victoria police chief Jamie Graham told 24 Hours.

Police also want to be able to seize the user's vehicle, says the report.

Justice minister Shirley Bond is reported as saying she would be willing to discuss the matter with police chiefs.

The chiefs are also considering making a formal request to have the penalty for distracted driving increased from the current $167, according to the report.

Driving while using a handheld device was made illegal in B.C. in 2010.

© Copyright (c) The Province


Read more: B.C. police want to make 24-hour seizures of mobile phones from distracted drivers, report says

do it, some people need to learn the hard way. I never used to be that bothered by people on their phones until I started riding.

They should seize the dogs that drivers let climb all over them first.

Seizing the phone, I get. Seizing the car is a little extreme.

Seize my phone?? lol.. good luck.

When I get a speeding ticket, maybe they should seize my right foot also?

Wtf? A hefty fine is more than enough.... A cell phone is an essential part of ur day and I can understand the danger of distracted driving (did a case study for ICBC) but seizing it for a day? There can be so many issues with that...
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Time to keep a spare cell in the glove box.
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Shirley Bond will no longer be in government most likely a month from now. Not to worry.

actually used to have a spare iphone i left in my car incase something happened to the current one i could just switch sims, not a bad idea... mind you not touching your phone while driving is probably a better idea lol :badpokerface:

I don't agree with the seizures because it will probably lead to a shitstorm Of other problems culminating in breaches of privacy and more. What's to stop an officer to casually browsing through your photos and messages/email if you happened to leave your phone unlocked or don't have a password.

In my opinion they should increase the fine if the driver is blatantly on their phone or texting but you should still have access to your phone on the road for emergency purposes or when your stopped at a red light/traffic jam within reasonable cause. Not everyone has a dashcam and being able to quickly snap pictures/videos on the road can still be pretty useful. Funny thing is I've seen cops on their phone during a red light and wondered what would happen if I whipped out my phone to take a picture. Would they be able to exercise this new law and confiscate my phone for 24 hours and *poof* those pictures magically disappear. Brb putting passcodes on everything.
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set up your phone to record/audio video
listen in on cop banter
send to CTV/news outlets

Hilarity will ensue?

A hefty fine means people will pay, confiscating someone's cell is too far

increase the fine with maybe 4pts and risk a license suspension is overkill, but if thats what it takes...then thats too bad for people that break the rule

This is an instance in which we know about it, and we continue to do so. No one to blame at times but ourselves.

emergency vehicle drivers are allowed to use there devices and drive, i remember when the law first passed that it was one of the rights of emergency responders, you can use your phone in the cas e of an emergency though

Yeah... Sorry but no. We have a charter of rights and freedoms to protect against this exact kind of thing. Illegal seizure without a warrant.

sounds like highschool, get your phone taken away if teacher sees you texting.. lol

I say charge more to repeat offenders, and if they still offend, then apply a suspension to their license, or even impound their car.

Then they cant complain they need to drive to work, as you can take a bus or taxi. If your job consists of driving well then you should've had a headset like most transport drivers do.

For them to take you phone, I think that's taking it a little to far.

Do cops themselves use BT headsets? If not why wouldn't they make it mandatory? I mean even most courier drivers use a headset.

I'm going to be blunt..

Police need to learn to FUCK OFF.

Personal privacy is PERSONAL PRIVACY. You can't just go around and do whatever the fuck you want.

Increasing fines is one thing. Taking someones property is another. I'd rather SMASH my phone infront of the officer before I give it to him for 24 hours.

i'm sorry but...

police can make seizures in order to prevent continuation of the offence...... without a warrant...... :pokerface:



are we still friends? :tears:

since they're trying to be creative...leave the phone, take the SIM card :troll:

increasing it is an easier option IMO

At this rate we should need more electric chair, but not to kill a person, only fry them a little to teach them a lesson. Nom saiyan?

I bet there will be "seizure" fee involved too Lol.

I just don't like the power cops have. What if they catch you with your head down and it looks like you are texting? Then you lose your phone. Same can be said about speeding over 40. At least with speeding they have some sort of proof.
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maybe they should work on getting the speeding mainlanders in their expensive cars first... lol they get caught, pay fine, get car and do it again!

I have nothing against cops, all the cops ive ever met were really chill.

But damn taking my phone, wtf. Teachers couldnt take it away from me in highschool, Cops cant take it away from me when im a grown ass man!

that bullshit! gun's don't kill people, people kill people. Cellphones helps say lives. Like the time somebody asked me to help them call the cops because they were getting raped but I had to tell them to hold out for another 24hrs because my phone had been confiscated.

Sounds OK to me if they actually did the crime, but if they are wrongly accused then WTF? I'd be livid.

One thing about giving people a fine is that many people can afford to pay money, but most people can't afford to give up the time to go out and get their phone. Taking away a cell phone could be a greater deterrent to many people who text/talk while using a cell phone with their hands on it.