A police bust in Wellington caught more than 100 people using their cellphones while driving.
The operation spanned just three hours and snapped 117 motorists in the Wellington CBD.
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"It is unacceptable that so many people were willing to risk their own safety and put others in harm's way by choosing to drive distracted and focus on their cellphones instead of the road," said Sergeant Laurence Vaultier.
He says a large number of the drivers caught were using social media like Facebook and Twitter.
"Life is worth it, distracted driving is not," said Vaultier.
Driving while using a phone was banned a decade ago and the number of people caught has tripled since then.
Since the ban, 41 people have been killed due to drivers using phones, and 109 more have been injured.
In New Zealand the penalty for being caught is an $80 fine and 20 demerit points, which pales in comparison to penalties in other parts of the world.
In the UK, it'll see you fined $370 and you'll lose half your demerit points.
In British Columbia in Canada it's even heftier - $620.
Early next year, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter says the Government will consult on new fines.
Newshub.
