Ottawa OPP charge 23 people with distracted driving, including driver using laptop

A sample of drivers the OPP say were caught in Ottawa using cellphones behind the wheel on May 20, 2026. (OPP/X)

Ontario Provincial Police charged 23 people with distracted driving this week following a one-day blitz.

Officers with the Ottawa detachment were out on the highways on Wednesday. Const. Michael Fathi said in a post on X that, with the help of a spotter vehicle, police caught nearly two dozen people using cell phones while driving. One man was caught using a laptop behind the wheel, Fathi said.

“Distracted driving remains the number one cause of serious and fatal collisions in Ontario,” he wrote.

In total, 56 charges were laid during the blitz, Fathi said. In addition to distracted driving, officers laid charges for stunt driving, not having insurance, driving while suspended, and for seatbelt violations, including against a passenger with a baby on their lap. Twenty-one warnings were also handed out.

A distracted driving charge can lead to a fine of $615, if settled out of court, or up to $1,000 if a summons is received or if you fight the ticket in court and lose, according to the Ontario government. A conviction will also result in three demerit points and a three-day suspension for a first offence.

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