Alberta considers province-wide ban on cellphones while driving

The Alberta government plans to introduce a bill this fall to ban the use of hand-held cellphones while driving, Premier Ed Stelmach said Wednesday.

The ban would be contained within legislation that would address other driving distractions, Stelmach said.

"It could be using a cellphone. It could be eating. It could be a pet that's running, jumping over the seats in the car. All of these things that may distract a driver," he said.

On Tuesday, Strathcona County, east of Edmonton, became the first Alberta municipality to ban cellphones while driving. The ban, which takes effect in September, excludes hands-free devices.

Provincial legislation will likely take the same route. Cracking down on people using hands-free devices could be difficult for police, Stelmach said.

"You see somebody talking. Are they talking to themselves or are they talking on the phone?" he asked. 

The province is also grappling with the issue of how high to make the penalty.

If the fine is too high, people might challenge their charges and tie up the court system, Stelmach said.

Four Canadian provinces have banned the use of cellphones while driving: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Ontario, where new legislation is set to take effect this fall.