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The minister responsible for SGI says the province is considering increasing penalties regarding distracted driving after a record number of distracted and aggressive driving offences were logged in May.

“We’re looking at several options,” Joe Hargrave said. “You can look at increasing fines, you can look at impounding a car, you can look at restricting people’s driver’s licences.”

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Hargrave made the statement during the release of SGI’s 2018-19 annual report Tuesday.

He said the increased numbers for distracted driving offences are partly due to changes in legislation to allow police additional powers. SGI said in June more officers are on the roads, with 120 new traffic officers since 2014.

NDP SGI critic Trent Wotherspoon said the Opposition would welcome such changes.

“At times this government’s been slow to respond to these pressures and realities,” said Wotherspoon. “We owe it to Saskatchewan people to make sure those roads are safe. We’ll be supportive of common sense solid measures on those fronts.”