When you see a person on the side of the road, whether they are asking for money, offering to clean your windshield or trying to hitch a ride, think twice about whether you are following the law.

That person might very well be an undercover police officer, said Cpl. Ronda Rempel, of BC RCMP Traffic Services.

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And that’s exactly how drivers in Richmond and Delta were stopped by Deas Island Traffic Services on St. Patrick’s Day during a one-day “distracted driving blitz” across the province.

The hitchhiker holding a St. Patrick’s Day inspired sign just north of the tunnel on Highway 99 was actually a police officer in street clothes watching drivers who were carelessly not watching the road. Numerous drivers were observed using an electronic device while driving, with many wearing two earbuds.

Many drivers stated they didn’t know they couldn’t wear both earbuds while driving.

“Only one earbud can be worn while driving and that any electronic device used in a hands-free mode must be securely affixed to the vehicle in a manner that does not obstruct the driver’s view,” said Rempel.

The most shocking violation was when two dump truck drivers, hauling gravel, stopped their trucks in the middle of Westminster Highway at Highway 99 to call each other on their cell phones. Both drivers were ticketed and received a $167 fine.

Deas Island Traffic Services conducted multiple enforcement operations where 36 violation tickets were issued for distracted driving offences, 14 seatbelts and 38 other violations.