MONTREAL - A three-month grace period for motorists using hand-held cellphones while driving has passed and starting today police will start applying the law in Quebec.
Since April first, when hand-held phones were first outlawed in Quebec, officers have only issued warnings.
But provincial police spokesman Marc Butz says that's come to an end.
He says if police see a person driving with a hand-held, he will be intercepted and will face a fine of 115 dollars and three demerit points.
The penalties will apply even if the drivers are not talking but are spotted by police with a cellphone in their hands.
The law covers any device that can be used as a cellular telephone such as a BlackBerry.
Quebec is just the latest province to introduce such legislation.
Nova Scotia has outlawed the use of hand-held cellphones since April first.
Penalties, including court costs, are just under 165 dollars for a first offence.
Newfoundland and Labrador was the first Canadian province to enact a cellphone law, in 2003, and fines can be as high as four hundred dollars, plus demerit points.
Ontario is considering legislation.