Manitoba to force drivers to hang up, butt out

Manitoba's NDP government has followed other jurisdictions by moving to ban drivers from talking on a hand-held phone while behind the wheel.

The province also plans to levy fines againstdrivers who smoke with children under 16 in the car.

"We all know how important it is to pay full attention while behind the wheel," Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux said as the government introduced the legislation Thursday.

Manitoba's Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross said doctors support the effort to curb the spread of second-hand smoke. "This new legislation will help protect Manitoba children from exposure to the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke," she said.

Drivers caught using a cellphone behind the wheel will be fined $190, officials said. And anyone caught smoking with a youngster in the car faces a $220 fine.

Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Quebec have similar bans on hand-held cellphones.Ontario has also recently introduced similar changes to the law. At least six U.S. states have similar bans.

Several jurisdictions have introduced prohibitions on smoking in vehicles with children present including British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Yukon.

Manitobas proposed legislation would allow for the use of hands-free mobile phones.

Police will be expected to enforce the changes in the Highway Traffic Act in the same way as the current seatbelt law is enforced.

A public education campaign will be rolled out before the proposed amendments become law.

The new measures come about at a time when the Doer governmenthas announced a series of other bans. The NDP government just announced it will ban logging operations in all but one of Manitobas 80 parks by April 1, 2009.

And a ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags will be phased in over two years.