When does the new mobile phone ban come into place?
Midnight on December 1 2003. 2. What does the ban mean? It is a specific offence to use a hand-held phone when driving. A hand-held device is something that “is or must be held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function”. A motorist can regard driving as meaning a vehicle with the engine running. In simple terms you can use a mobile as long as you don’t hold the phone and you can’t use a hand-held phone if the engine is running. 3. How much is the fine if you get caught using a hand-held mobile when driving? Motorists will receive a fixed penalty of £30. 4. What happens if you take the matter to court? Motorists can take the matter to court and the maximum fine is £1000. (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles.) 5. Do you get penalty points as well as the fine? No, not at the moment. However there are plans to introduce legislation so motorists do get penalty points and a fine. This could happen sometime in 200
