Ontario:
NEW - Ontario’s Bill 118, The Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009
Ontario’s new law prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices while driving is expected to come into effect in fall 2009. (Please note: Reports that the law took effect on September 1, 2009 are incorrect.) Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type, email, dial or chat using any hand-held device will face fines of up to $500 upon conviction. Hands-free use will still be permitted.
Motorists And Cellular Phones
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Québec:
Since April 1, 2008, use of any type of hand-held device with a telephone function has been prohibited while driving.
The law bans use of any type of device with a telephone function that can connect to a telephone network,
whether or not it has been activated. These include:
- conventional cell phones;
- wireless information devices (BlackBerry);
- cell phones with a transmitter-receiver function (walkie-talkie), such as the TELUS Mike or cell phones that are linked to the 10-4 service provided by Bell. This type of device is prohibited, even if the cell phone function has been deactivated;
- devices that display emails or that enable a user to browse the Internet.
This ban does not apply to drivers of emergency vehicles in the performance of their duties. (For example: police, firefighter, ambulance vehicles or any vehicle identified by the SAAQ as an emergency vehicle.)
Cell Phones and Driving | Road Safety | SAAQ