PSNI hands out over £450k in mobile phone driving offences in two years
Drivers in Northern Ireland were fined more than 1,000 times after being caught using a phone at the wheel in the last year.
Over £200,000 worth of penalties were issued by the PSNI in the 12 months to April.
The 1,012 fixed penalty notices issued were on top of 1,255 fines handed out to drivers in the year beforehand.
A law against making mobile phone calls or sending messages while driving in Northern Ireland was put in place in 2004.
News Catch Up - Friday 27th June
In 2021, then Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon brought in tougher penalties for phone use while driving.
Anyone caught using a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel is now given six penalty points and fined £200 – before it was £60 and three points.
The legislation brings Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK where the laws were changed in 2017.
Those caught offending for a second time, or who have 12 points on their licence will face a court hearing and disqualification, with fines of up to £1,000.
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins launched a consultation last month on further strengthening the law.
She wants to make it illegal to use a handheld mobile while driving for activities like taking photos or videos, scrolling through playlists or playing games.
Ms Kimmins said: 'Driving is a complex activity requiring a driver's full attention and the consequences of a lapse in attention behind the wheel could last a lifetime. The statistics show that inattention is a causation factor in the majority of collisions which result in death or serious injury.
'Holding and using a mobile phone for any purpose while driving should not be an option for a driver using our roads.'
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