21 drivers handed phone fines

FINES totalling £4,200 were handed to drivers who were caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel last week.

Warwickshire Police said 21 fines were given out during the week-long crackdown.

Targeted unmarked patrols were carried out in locally-identified hotspots, while information was hand out to drivers on the tougher punishments, and messages sent out on social media.

In March last year, on-the-spot fines and the number of points on a driver’s licence were both doubled to £200 and six points, respectively.

But since then 420 drivers have still been caught red-handed.

Eighty eight fines were given to drivers on roads in the area covered by neighbouring West Mercia Police last week.

Superintendent, Paul Moxley, said: “Our officers will continue to ensure that we do all we can to enforce this important legislation and take such drivers off our roads.

“This is good work by our officers targeting those putting, not just themselves, but other people at serious risk of injury and potentially far worse. The hope is this deters such reckless driving and means, in the future people will put their phones in their glove box or bag - and never drive distracted."