A one-hour traffic operation in Hobart has caught out 27 drivers using their phones while on the road.
The Tuesday afternoon sting resulted in penalties of 3 demerit points and $404 fines to each of the offending drivers.
Sergeant Andrew Sulman said mobile phone use is a fatal five offence.
He said it was disappointing that officers continue to find people driving while distracted by their screens.
“Safety on our roads is a priority for Tasmania Police,” he said.
“We will continue to conduct both highly visible and covert operations that target the fatal five – speeding, fatigue, distraction, seatbelts and alcohol and drugs.”
He reminded drivers that it is illegal to hold a phone in your hand or rest it on any part of your body while driving.
Typing or entering anything into a phone, sending or looking at messages, turning a phone on or off or operating any other function is also against the law.
Learners and P1 provisional drivers are banned from using hands-free and voice-activation modes while driving, including when a vehicle is stationary but not parked.
