Antigua | New fines for persons caught driving while using cell phones
Published:Monday | January 6, 2020 | 12:24 AM
ST JOHN’S (CMC):
Motorists who have been “observed and caught” by police using a cell phone while driving will have to pay a fine of EC$500 (J$4,834) immediately, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has said.
In a statement, it said that the amendment to the Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Act 2018 has gone into effect, making it an offence of careless driving while holding and using a handheld mobile device.
“The Vehicle and Road Traffic (Enforcement and Administration) (Amendment) Order 2019 makes it an offence for driving and using handheld device.
“Regulation 4 of the Vehicles and Road Traffic (Mobile Devices) Regulations of 2019 permits police officers to issue a ticket if you are observed holding and using mobile device while driving,” the statement said.
It said that the legislation makes it an offence for “individuals to view, send or compose an electronic message” behind the wheels of a moving vehicle.