How police are spotting drivers using mobile phones in their laps

MOBILE-mad drivers are being caught by police who are using a new weapon to nab more than 23,000 drivers in less than a year, stinging them $11 million in fines.

MOBILE-mad drivers have paid $11 million in fines for driving while texting, talking and using social media, prompting cops to ramp up efforts to catch sly motorists.

The fine windfall is just for the 10 months to April of this year with police nabbing more than 23,000 drivers.

COPS MAY SCAN PHONES FOR TEXTING DRIVERS

WE STILL USE OUR PHONES WHILE DRIVING

In a bid to catch more ­mobile-addicted motorists, perched-up police riding in SUVs will use their bird’s-eye view to nab sneaky drivers fiddling with mobile phones on their laps.

Extra officers are also being deployed on motorbikes and working as plain-clothed spotters in the war against the alarming trend.

Phone-obsessed motorists have been caught using multiple devices at once and even watching porn.

Police are alarmed at a disregard for safety among drivers using mobile phones. Picture: File

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer told the Herald Sun whereas once drivers could be easily spotted holding a phone to their ear, widespread use of hands-free technology meant devices were now increasingly illegally used to access the internet and social media.

“The methodology of ­offending has changed so we’ve had to change our enforcement techniques,’’ Mr Fryer said.

“With the birth of social connectivity we’re now seeing people offending while using the mobile phone in their lap.

“We need increased elevation for detection.

“So we’ve had a number of highway patrols change over their fleet to say (Ford) Territories that have a higher viewing point or elevation so we can look into the driver’s seat of a standard car.”

CYCLISTS USING MOBILE PHONES WILL COP FINES

OUR MOST ANNOYING DRIVING HABITS

Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer says police have had to rethink how they detect motorists illegally using mobile phones. Picture: Mark Stewart

Illegal phone use carries a $476 fine and four demerit points. A blitz in Carlton’s Lygon St detected more than 50 culprits in just two hours.

One man was watching pornography. Another was using one phone to play a movie and a second to talk to friends.

Mr Fryer said phone-­distracted drivers had not only killed themselves in crashes over the past year but innocent road users.

More police motorcycles are being used in the inner city to spot drivers using phones on their laps. Picture: File

“This style of offending is far more dangerous than the phone to the ear,’’ he said.

“Because of the style of offending and it’s in the lap our traditional methodology of just pulling up next to someone when we are in a standard police sedan — we have to challenge that.

“These are life-critical decisions people are making and they are not getting the message of how risky it is.

“People are continually wanting to get online and be involved in social dialogue while in motion.”

The force’s motorcycle fleet has been increased around Melbourne’s CBD in particular where bikes can slowly filter through traffic and see concealed phones.

PERV DRIVER CAUGHT WATCHING PORN

BADLY BEHAVED DRIVERS CAUGHT OUT

Spotting operations on suburban streets are also being ramped up including the use of plain-clothed officers working as lookouts on the kerbside.

The number of motorists illegally using their phones has been declining in Victoria.

There were 26,820 in the 2015/16 financial year — a near 40 per cent drop on two years earlier.

Those aged 24-29 comprise around a fifth of offenders but the problem is spread among all ages.

Almost 500 fined between last July and April this year were aged over 65.

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