Education first, then enforcement – that’s the model New Westminster police used for its two-day crackdown on distracted driving last week.
The city’s traffic unit and several auxiliary constables were out on the streets on March 25 and 26 reminding drivers about the dangers of using their mobile devices behind the wheel. During the first day of the blitz, officers didn’t issue a single ticket but rather took the opportunity to educate drivers that were pulled over for using their phones while driving.
On the second day, however, it was a different story. Officers issued a total of 46 tickets during two hour-and-a-half campaigns. During the morning session, at 10th Avenue and Eighth Street, officers caught 15 drivers using their mobile devices. In the afternoon, at Columbia Street and McBride Boulevard, officers issued another 31 tickets.
