March Distracted Driving Campaign: What B.C. Drivers Need to Know
Every March, the BC Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP) coordinates two simultaneous province-wide traffic enforcement campaigns: one targeting distracted drivers and one targeting occupant restraint violations. Both run the full month, and both carry penalties that are far heavier than many drivers realize.
If you receive a ticket during one of these campaigns, or any time of year, understanding what you’re actually being charged with, and what it costs you, is the first step.
The Distracted Driving Campaign: It’s About Your Phone
When police and the BCACP refer to “distracted driving,” the March campaign is focused almost entirely on handheld electronic device use, specifically, drivers holding their cell phones while behind the wheel. This is the conduct that generates the vast majority of tickets during this campaign.
Under the *Motor Vehicle Act*, using an electronic device while driving is prohibited unless the device is configured for hands-free use. Holding your phone to text, to scroll, to make a call, to check a map is a violation regardless of whether the vehicle is moving or stopped at a red light.
The Penalty for a Cell Phone Ticket in B.C.
A distracted driving ticket in British Columbia is one of the most expensive traffic penalties on the books:
– $368 fine for a first violation
– 4 penalty points applied to your driving record
– ICBC penalty premiums at licence renewal, a driver with a poor driving record can see their insurance increase by hundreds of dollars per year
For drivers who are still within their first two years of licensing (novice drivers), a distracted driving conviction can result in licence suspension.
The combination of the fine, the points, and the insurance consequences makes a cell phone ticket well worth disputing.
How Police Enforce It in March
The BCACP typically begins the month with a high-visibility enforcement period in the first few days and officers deployed in elevated numbers, often with media invited to observe and report. This early push generates both tickets and news coverage, which serves the campaign’s public awareness goal.
After the initial blitz, enforcement continues throughout the month, often with officers in unmarked vehicles or positioned at intersections and elevated vantage points where they can observe drivers looking down at their laps.
The Occupant Restraint Campaign: Seatbelts
Running alongside the distracted driving campaign throughout March is the Occupant Restraint Campaign, targeting seatbelt non-compliance for both drivers and passengers.
Under B.C. law, every occupant of a vehicle must be properly restrained. The driver is responsible not only for wearing their own seatbelt, but also for ensuring that passengers under 16 are properly restrained. Failing to wear a seatbelt carries a fine and penalty points, and passengers over 16 who are unrestrained can be ticketed directly.
Seatbelt enforcement often runs in tandem with other checks at roadside stops, meaning officers who have pulled someone over for a distracted driving observation may also be checking occupant restraint compliance at the same time.
Can You Fight These Tickets?
Yes. Both distracted driving and seatbelt tickets are disputable, and both are worth disputing given the financial consequences beyond the initial fine.
For distracted driving tickets in particular, the circumstances of the stop and the officer’s observations are central to whether the charge holds up. What the officer saw, from where, and what you were actually doing all matter. These are not automatic convictions.
Always call a lawyer before paying any ticket. If you’ve received a distracted driving or seatbelt ticket in British Columbia, speaking with a driving lawyer before your dispute deadline is worth your time.
The deadline to dispute a traffic ticket in B.C. is 30 days from the date of the violation. Don’t let that window close. Call the BC Driving Lawyers now at 604-608-1200.