Tougher penalties for drivers caught using their mobile phone illegally are about to come into force in Queensland.
From 1 February 2020 if you are caught illegally using your mobile phone while driving you will receive a $1,000 fine and 4 demerit points.
If you are caught for a second time within a 12 month period, the penalty increases to a $1,000 fine plus 8 demerit points.
Cyclists caught using their mobile phone while riding will also be fined $1,000.
It is illegal to use your mobile phone while driving, even if you are stopped in traffic or at a red light. This means that you cannot:-
- Hold the phone next to your ear or at all;
- Write, send or read a text message;
- Turn your phone on or off; or
- Operate any function on your phone, including GPS or music functions.
Learner and P1 provisional drivers under 25 must not use hands-free, wireless handsets or a phone’s loudspeaker function.
Passengers in a car driven by a learner or P1 provisional driver are also banned from using a phone’s loudspeaker function.
