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Oxford County OPP have laid their first distracted driving charge on the first day of new, tougher legislation.

Police charged a driver in Oxford County New Year’s Day along Highway 2, just south of Highway 401.

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Under new rules that came into effect Jan. 1, drivers who are caught using their cell phones or other handheld devices will be fined up to $1,000, get three demerit points and lose their licence for three days. The minimum fine for that first offence, if settled out of court, is now $615 – an increase from the previous $490 fine.

“These new penalties are the direct result of needless tragedies,” OPP West Region Staff Sgt. Brian Knowler said in a statement. “Distracted driving continues to be one of the biggest threats on Ontario roadways, and all road users have a part to play in road safety efforts.”

Drivers with a second offence in five years will be fined up to $2,000, get six demerit points and lose their licence for six days.

Drivers with more than two offences within five years will be fined up to $3,000, get six demerit points and lose and their licence for 30 days.

Novice drivers caught texting, calling or using their handheld devices behind the wheel will face the same fines as other drivers but face a 30-day licence suspension on a first offence, 90-day suspension for a second conviction and the cancellation of their licence and removal from the graduated licensing system after a third conviction.