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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Talking on a cellphone without a hands-free device or text messaging while driving will be banned in the NWT and radio phone users will have to pull off the road to carry on a conversation.

The penalty is a $100 fine, plus 15 per cent victim of crime surcharge and three demerit points.

The changes to the NWT Motor Vehicles Act received third reading in the legislative assembly on Aug. 23 and take effect New Year's Day. The vote was unanimous.

The ban on cellphones may be extended in the future to include hands-free devices, said Transportation Minister Michael McLeod.

Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro, who pressed the government for the change, which brings the Northwest Territories in line with every province and territory in Canada except Nunavut, wants the ban extended to hands-free devices.

"It's the conversation that distracts, not the device," Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley said.

Bisaro said on Aug. 22 she doesn't expect an immediate extension on the ban, but hopes the government will up the ante on fines and restrictions in the future.

"I do hope that in a couple of years' time there is an evaluation of the effect that this ban is having on our traffic accidents, and that we will then consider to make it even more restrictive for people driving distractedly and put greater penalties in place."

McLeod said this bill is the result of complaints and concerns the government has heard from the public.

"In our consultations we have heard growing concern about the number of collisions and near misses that occur because someone was paying more attention to their phone or other device than to their driving," said McLeod on Monday as he presented the bill to enact distracted driving legislation. "Both the enforcement community and municipal governments have indicated their support for this legislation."

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