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BC Police Chiefs Lobby for Cell Phone Ban

4:05 am on June 19, 2009 | Category: Cell Phones, Editorials, Mobile Devices, Regulation

British Columbia’s police chiefs are asking the provincial government to pass an outright ban on the use of mobile devices while driving.

The sweeping recommendation, which was approved by the Association of Chiefs of Police in Nanaimo on Monday, would ban all mobile phone use, even with a hands-free device. This goes much further than similar regulations in several other provinces (including Ontario), which ban only handheld devices.

BC Solicitor General, Kash Heed, says he will consider the proposal, but “wants to hear from interest groups and the public on what they have to say.”

Last fall, TeleClick pointed out some of the logical problems with an outright ban on mobile phone use behind the wheel, noting that while talking on the phone is one of many potential driving distractions, it is not necessarily dangerous.

Instead of passing a heavy-handed ban on cell phone use, BC should follow the example of Washington state and create a secondary law allowing police to deal with truly irresponsible behaviour on a case-by-case basis.

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