The Vancouver Police Department's traffic unit issued a ticket on Wednesday to a multi-tasking motorist caught with both an iPhone and an electronic tablet fastened to his steering wheel with string. Vancouver police say the car was pulled over on Cambie Street near Broadway after an officer spotted the driver wearing headphones.
The Lexus driver presumably mounted the two devices because he needed both hands to operate his five-speed manual transmission.
Can't make it up. Guy had iPad and cell phone attached by strings on steering wheel while driving! Yes, that's his ticket he's holding. pic.twitter.com/h5WoA2ac87
— @VPDTraffic (@VPDTrafficUnit) November 15, 2017
Police issued the driver a $81 violation ticket for not being able to produce a driver’s licence, but did not issue a distracted driving ticket which carries a fine of $368 along with four driver penalty points.
VPD spokesman Const. Jason Doucette said the ticketing officer decided that educating the driver about the devices would be a more effective approach.
“Just when I think I’ve seen everything, a photo like this is captured by one of our officers,” said Doucette. “We are reminding drivers to leave their devices alone while behind the wheel. And although our officer felt education was appropriate in this incident.”
In another incident this week, Vancouver police doled out a $368 ticket to a driver caught playing Pokemon Go in traffic.
While playing #PokemonGo may be fun, it's not worth risking your life or the lives of others so that you can play while driving! Not to mention the $368 ticket this driver received after he pulled up beside two police officers while playing & driving. #DontDriveDistracted! #VPD pic.twitter.com/kvlXCdcuhy
— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) November 13, 2017
The Insurance Corp. of B.C. says drivers are five times more likely to crash while operating a handheld device.
Earlier this month, B.C. Attorney General David Eby announced he would designate distracted driving a high-risk behaviour and increase penalties by $744 for drivers who get two tickets within three years.