A 42-year-old man from Red Deer was charged with distracted driving after he was observed watching a movie on a laptop while driving on Highway 2.
On Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m., members of the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) were dispatched to a complaint of a dangerous driver near Carstairs.
Another motorist passed a blue Chrysler minivan that was travelling southbound on the highway and observed the driver of the Chrysler watching a movie on a laptop computer on the passenger seat as he passed.
The concerned motorist notified the police. An ITU officer was dispatched to look for the minivan and after locating it near Carstairs, also observed the driver to be watching the movie while driving.
The driver of the minivan was issued a distracted driving ticket as a result of this incident.
In Alberta, distracted driving law restricts drivers from: using hand-held cell phones; texting or emailing; using electronic devices like laptop computers, video games, cameras, video entertainment displays and programming portable audio players (e.g. MP3 players); entering information on GPS units; reading printed materials in the vehicle; writing, printing or sketching, and personal grooming.
The fine for this offense is $172 and applies to vehicles like cars, motorcycles, motor homes, truck tractors, farm vehicles and bicycles.
Cell phones may be used by motorists as long as they are in a hands-free capacity.
Communication devices such as CB radios are allowed for commercial purposes.
