Distracted driving fines to be tripled

P.E.I. Transportation Minister Robert Vessey has tabled legislation that would triple the maximum fine for distracted driving.

If the bill passes in its current form, the maximum fine if you're caught talking on your cell phone or texting while behind the wheel will rise from $400 to $1,200. The minimum fine will double to $500. The number of demerits against your licence would also increase, from three to five.

Vessey said in terms of danger distracted driving ranks right up there with impaired driving and he wants to get that message through, especially to young people.

Nowadays with kids that have a cell phone early in life, they tend to maybe use them when they get their licence, he said.

We hope that trend is cut off. We're looking at different ways and areas to try and fight that.

The bill would also add new penalties for holders of graduated licences, with an automatic 30-day suspension for your first distracted driving offence, and 90 days for a second offence.

Last year there were 215 convictions for distracted driving using a handheld device under P.E.I.'s Highway Traffic Act, down slightly from 2012.