10/2/2009  Ontario Cracks Down on Cell Phone Use While Driving

The Ontario Legislature has passed a law banning the use of handheld devices to talk, text or e-mail while driving. While the Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act takes effect Oct. 26, police won't start issuing tickets until Feb. 1, 2010, following a three-month education period.

Under the new rule, drivers are prohibited from holding a wireless communication device or electronic entertainment device while driving, unless the vehicle is off the traveled part of the road and not in motion. The new law does not apply to the hands-free mode.

Global positioning system navigation devices, handheld communication and similar prescribed devices, commercially-used logistical transportation tracking systems, collision avoidance systems and instruments, gauges and systems providing information regarding the status of systems of the motor vehicle are exempted from the regulation. Drivers who are caught violating the rule can face fines of up to $500 upon conviction.




Government/Regulations: Related News

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2/5/2010 - PHMSA Considers Fee Hike For Hazmat Carriers In the Feb. 2 Federal Register, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to more than triple the annual registration fee for shippers and carriers of hazardous materials.... More >

2/4/2010 - DOT Proposes Changes to Drug Testing Procedures The Department of Transportation is proposing to amend certain provisions of its drug testing procedures, to create consistency with new requirements established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Mandatory Guidelines.... More >

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"We take texting while driving as an epidemic," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said last week after he announced that DOT has banned truck and bus drivers from texting while they are driving, and will levy civil and criminal penalties up to $2,750 for violations.... More >

1/29/2010 - Iowa Listening Session Allows Drivers to Speak Up The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's fourth and final listening session on the hours of service rule was focused on hearing insights from drivers themselves on what the agency should do.... More >

1/27/2010 - Trucking Industry Dominates HOS Discussion in Los Angeles Listening Session The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held its third listening session Monday in El Segundo, Calif., to further discuss how to revise the hours of service rule. ... More >

1/27/2010 - Texting Ban Is Step One in Campaign Against Distracted Driving The federal ban on truck driver texting announced yesterday is just the opening salvo in a campaign to control distracted driving.... More >

1/26/2010 - DOT Bans Texting by Truckers; Penalties up to $2,750 The U.S. Department of Transportation this morning announced a ban on texting or the use of handheld cell phones by drivers of commercial vehicles, effective immediately, with violators subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.... More >

1/25/2010 - DOT Will Ban Texting While Driving The Department of Transportation is going to ban truck and bus drivers from texting on handheld devices while driving.... More >

1/25/2010 - Oregon Takes Weight Enforcement to the Next Level During a one-day enforcement event of truck size and weight laws on Jan. 14, Oregon Department of Transportation's Motor Carrier Transportation Division and Portland Police Bureau weighed more than 200 trucks.... More >

1/22/2010 - CARB Reiterates Enforcement of Airborne Toxic Control Measure The California Air Resources Board has began enforcing its Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) in-use performance standards earlier this month, contrary to rumors that the measure is on hold.... More >

1/21/2010 - ATRI Releases Updated List of Idling Regulations The American Transportation Research Institute has released an updated version of its listing of state and local idling regulations, which can be accessed as a cab card or on the web.... More >

1/20/2010 - ATA Seeks Answers on Supporting Document Regulation The American Trucking Associations has filed a lawsuit asking the court to compel the Department of Transportation to issue supporting documents regulation on hours of service.... More >

1/20/2010 - FMCSA Commences Hours of Service Review with First of Four Listening Sessions The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched its review of the hours of service rule with a listening session in Washington, D.C., yesterday, the first of four it plans to hold around the country this month.... More >

1/15/2010 - New Jersey Phasing Out Sleeper Berth Idling Starting May 1, 2010, drivers of diesel-powered vehicles in New Jersey will no longer be exempt from the Department of Environmental Protection's anti-idling regulation.... More >

1/14/2010 - Effort to Improve International Trucking at an Impasse U.S. and Canadian trucking interests have for a couple of years been trying to get U.S. Customs and Border Protection to loosen its restrictions on the movement of empty international trailers, but with no success so far.... More >

1/14/2010 - New CARB Mandate Takes Effect This Month A new rule requiring heavy-duty trucks and trailers in California to have low-rolling resistance tires and approved aerodynamic devices goes into effect this month.... More >

1/14/2010 - FMCSA Schedules Fourth HOS Listening Session in Iowa The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has scheduled its fourth listening session on the truck driver hours of service rulemaking in a location near truck parking.... More >

1/13/2010 - New Group Formed to Combat Distracted Driving U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the creation of FocusDriven, a national nonprofit organization aimed at raising awareness and combating distracted driving.... More >

1/12/2010 - LaHood Points to Flaws in AP Story on Creation of Construction Jobs In response to an Associated Press story claiming the government's $20 billion infusion into roads and bridges did not result in any significant change in employment rates, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the AP missed the mark... More >