New tool means police can catch distracted drivers from over 1km away

[Harvey Specter]

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Traffic police have a new tool to help them bust distracted drivers in BC.

This comes just ahead of the May long weekend and in time for the start of a crackdown on dangerous driving.

The upgraded camera scopes will allow officers to catch people using the phones while driving from up to 1.2km away.

“In addition to the officer actually viewing the violation, it allows that officer to capture a still image of the violation while it’s happening,” says Constable Melissa Wutke with BC RCMP Traffic Services. “That just helps us make our best evidence in court if we need to. But it also allows the violator to make an appointment to come down to the police office and actually look at the photo for themselves.”

“It eliminates any conversation or disagreement that the offense was taking place at the time that the officer says it was happening — as opposed to just the officer’s word against the driver’s,” she adds.

Police say the scopes will help tackle what’s become one of the top dangerous driving behaviours in BC, with 66 people killed in distracted driving accidents in 2014.

New fines for distracted driving kick in on June 1st, with the first offense costing a total of $543.

[boostfever]

By "new tool" I think they mean a Best Buy dslr camera mounted to a tele lens..

[Klondike]

@ pic

the latest technology

[smoothie.]

Good luck proving I'm looking at a phone vs scratching my balls.

[Mr.Money]

does this mean front driving tinted windows pays for its self?

[SpartanAir]

Found this full explanation of what is considered distracted driving, as the new fines kick in June 1st. Good to be educated when the ignorant card doesn't work. It's from October 2014, but I'm pretty sure it's the same except for the higher fines, though correct me if I'm wrong.

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/dri...le-driving.pdf

[FerrariEnzo]

Originally Posted by smoothie.

Good luck proving I'm looking at a phone vs scratching my balls.

you need to look downat your balls while scratching them?

[320icar]

Just to admire gods work, bruh

[ZN6]

Originally Posted by FerrariEnzo

you need to look downat your balls while scratching them?

He's gotta find them first right?

[swiftshift]

Originally Posted by smoothie.

Good luck proving I'm looking at a phone vs scratching my balls.

/thread

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by smoothie.

Good luck proving I'm looking at a phone vs scratching my balls.

Actually, with the way the motor vehicle act is written, you have to prove you were scratching your balls and NOT looking at a phone.

[swiftshift]

Originally Posted by SumAznGuy

Actually, with the way the motor vehicle act is written, you have to prove you were scratching your balls and NOT looking at a phone.

Save a sample of the DNA on fingernail/tips and place in a zip lock bag until court

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by swiftshift

Save a sample of the DNA on fingernail/tips and place in a zip lock bag until court

Now you have to prove you weren't "pleasuring" yourself.

[smoothie.]

Originally Posted by SumAznGuy

Now you have to prove you weren't "pleasuring" yourself.

Wrong.

They have to prove I was.

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by smoothie.

Wrong.

They have to prove I was.

Not according to the MVA they don't.
It's guilty till proven innocent.

[jeedee]

question: is it considered distracted driving if i drink water at a red light out of those squeezable water bottles and not the twist caps where you look down to twist it open/close?

was having a discussion with a friend who eats while he drives and apparently its distracted driving if you eat or drink (non alcohol) while driving?

[MRSky88]

I wonder when they'll enforce that having a passenger is considered a distraction.

[Reeyal]

So...
During last week, I was in Calgary, and I noticed so many people on their phones at red lights. Why... texting can wait.
I'm sure Vancouver is just as bad.

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by jeedee

question: is it considered distracted driving if i drink water at a red light out of those squeezable water bottles and not the twist caps where you look down to twist it open/close?

was having a discussion with a friend who eats while he drives and apparently its distracted driving if you eat or drink (non alcohol) while driving?

News1130 had an article that said any form of eating/drinking is distracted driving.
So does having a dog in your lap, even if it is sleeping and not standing up looking out the window.

[SpartanAir]

Here's a question that might be obvious, and isn't original, but I feel needs to be pointed out:

Why is it legal/ safe for a police officer to type on their dash-mounted LAPTOP, but I can't text on my phone? How long did they spend in police training driving and typing? And even then, how are they more qualified than me to type on a device than me? I've been driving for 18 years, and have had a cellphone for probably 15 of them, and have had it in my car for most of that time, and used it quite a lot before it became illegal; for way longer than most newer cops have been on the road, with their cruisers and laptops.

Now, I'm not saying I should be texting and driving, it is still dangerous. What I want to know if there is some kind of argument from the other side to justify this hypocrisy; that police officers are somehow more qualified and pose less of a threat of distracted driving than myself or any other driver who has used a mobile device while driving.

[twitchyzero]

if one makes that argument then you can also say race car drivers are a lot more seasoned than the average police officer at driving at high speeds...however that shouldn't mean qualifying these racers to drive at excessive speeds on the streets legally.

being more experienced at something should not equate to have more leniency/driving privileges ( I know that's not what you meant), because it'll encourage overconfidence

[SpartanAir]

^
While I see your point, it's not quite the same thing as race car drivers are used to driving at high speeds, but without all the hazards a city street contains. Police and the average driver share the same road their driving on while distracted.

I agree, I'm not saying there should be more leniency for "experienced texters", I'm just posing the question as to why a police officer is considered more qualified to drive while distracted.

There might not be an answer, it might be as simple as "they're not, but they have to use a computer while driving to do their job".

[jackmeister]

so i shave with an electric shaver at the red lights.... is that ok?

[MarkyMark]

Cop cars are few and far between when you compare them to the amount of drivers on the road. The laptop while driving is part of their job. So while I'm sure they realize it's not ideal, having some officers on a laptop is still better than having everyone on the road looking at their phone.

[Ohkun]

What if you are holding one of these dummy phone?

lol