A Transit Police officer is standing facing traffic with a SkyTrain station in the background

April 11, 2024

299 fines issued by Transit Police during distracted driving initiatives in March

New Westminster – The Transit Police Targeted Mobile Enforcement Team (TMET), in support of ICBC’s traffic priority for March, conducted 35 distracted driving enforcement initiatives in and around major transit hubs last month. As a result, nearly 300 violation tickets were issued.

Throughout the month of March, Transit Police TMET, in partnership with ICBC, participated in a campaign dedicated to distracted driving awareness. Guided by a priority of increasing transit safety, TMET focused their efforts at targeting distracted drivers who posed a threat to pedestrians making their way to and from transit stations and bus loops throughout Metro Vancouver. During these efforts, they worked jointly with Richmond RCMP, Burnaby RCMP, BC Highway Patrol Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU), and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE).

During the course of the month-long, Province-wide campaign, TMET participated in 35 distracted driving enforcement initiatives. They issued 216 violation tickets to people for using electronic devices while driving, for a total of $79,488 in fines. And, they issued a further 83 violation tickets to drivers for a variety of offences, including: Drive Contrary to Restrictions, No Driver’s License, Drive without Insurance, and impaired driving. Countless other drivers were given warnings and educated about the dangers of distracted driving.

Distracted driving violation tickets include penalties of $368 and 4 driver penalty points. Drivers with two convictions for using an electronic device while driving in a three-year period will face as much as $2,000 in fines and penalties, over and above resulting increases to vehicle insurance premiums.

“The Targeted Mobile Enforcement Team takes all aspects of transit safety seriously and that includes keeping people safe as they make their way to and from transit hubs. What we have seen during the course of our enforcement activities is that many drivers aren’t paying the necessary attention to pedestrians who often include children, seniors and other people who may be especially vulnerable during a collision.” – Sergeant Steve Newton, Targeted Mobile Enforcement Team.

TMET members post about their enforcement activities to Twitter (X) and Instagram.

Anyone who experiences or witnesses a crime on or near transit is asked to report it. Call 604.515.8300 or text 87.77.77 for Transit Police. Always call 9-1-1 in an emergency.