The Winnipeg Police Service is getting creative when cracking down on distracted drivers.
Officers will use bikes that can easily weave in and out of traffic to spot drivers on their phones.
They drive unmarked SUVs that give a higher vantage point and allow officers to see more clearly into cars.
A team of officers also keeps an eye from above.
One officer will watch traffic in a downtown skywalk. If they see a distracted driver, they radio their partner on the ground to pull the person over and issue a ticket.
On July 1, Manitobans faced new distracted driving penalties.
A person caught using a cellphone or handheld device faces a $200 fine and loses five points from their licence.
Const. Jason English said the new rules are already making a difference in the number of tickets he hands out.
“I will definitely say that there’s a decrease with the increase of the merit penalty that people are paying,” said English.
English said there are some common excuses that drivers give when pulled over.
“The most common one is holding the device, talking hands free, believing that to be a hands-free use of the device,” said English.
He also said many drivers claim they did not know that it was illegal to use a cellphone at a stop sign or light.
According to Manitoba Public Insurance, an average of 28 people are killed per year in collisions linked to distracted driving.
