I agree with you Rick that police are not above the law but I have to commend the 3 occassions where I have seen police officers pulled off on the side of the road using their cell phones. I personally haven't seen a police officer use their cell phone while he or she is driving. Seeing a police officer pulled over reinforced to me that this is a very important practice. From the sounds of it the officer you witnessed may be an unfortunate exception. My thoughts . . .

I think in the wording of the law there is an exemption for emergency personal performing their duties. There are times when they cannot help but be on a call while on the road.

were their lights on!!

They need there cell phone in order to do their job. Thats like saying the shouldn't speed. Its part of their job, just like carrying a gun. These police risk their lives everyday for us... I think them talking on their cell phones is alright.

Police can use their cell phone while driving as long as its work related

I was under the impression that emergency workers have radios for communication. Hmmm have they replaced their radios with cell phones?

They dont enforce the law against the public so why shouldnt they break it to?

hands free should be supplied and installed in all emergency vehicles and used just as a matter of priciple to set an example to everyone else.

I have seen many officers who have had their own devices but if they use their phones for work it should be supplied.

Police, ambulance and fire are exempt from the law while on duty and responding to duty related calls or investigations. Remember that there is usually only one channel for radio comunications but there could be more than one call happening simutaneously. I would think cell phone calls would prevent communication confusion and perhaps (whether we agree or not) save a life! Besides, Joe Public does not have the advanced driving skills training that emergency workers have so shouldn't be worried or ranting about emergency personel being allowed to use cell phones in the course of their sworn duty!!!!

very contradictory, because they wear a badge that means they aren't distracted while talking on a cellphone while driving. Seems to me their chances of a collision are raised when drinving while talking just as much as anybody else driving out there. They should not break a law to uphold another law. who will be responsible when a police officer is involved in a collision where somebody is injured or killed and they find talking on a cell phone was a cause or a factor? Safety first.

Work related well on duty is one thing, but watch them leave work in their personal vehicles, on their cell phones, and then what? Same as the LAW that drivers window cannot be tinted on a vehicle, yet one senior officer drives his truck around proudly, parking where he wants to and the drivers window is dark! Leading by example is a great way to increase trust and respect!

its not the phones that bother me! it's the use of their computers while driving, I was in s'toon a while back, and a police woman nearly side swiped me while using her computer, i had to swerve and honk to get her attention!

Ap parently ,Police officers can drive their patrol cars without using their seatbelts if they drive below 50 kilometer an hour .Unfortunately they sometimes forget to do them up at high speed .

no that were on to cell phones! the law is no cells phones while driving! why are people still on them and not fined. THIS IS THE LAW. why is it not being enforced. lets get with it PA police officers.

come on everyone,the law is for everyone to obey including law enfrorcement. What about pulling over to make a call, what about bluetooth,lets get with the program, lead by example. Driving is a privilage not a right so drive and stay off the cell phone. This law is slow to be enforced lets start with our police and maybe they will start enforcing the law. It was no different when the seat belt law came in. common Mr. policeman you maybe a better driver than the rest of us but an accident is still an accident. It just may happen because you were on your cell an not paying attention. So smarten up and get with the program and also anyone else who is not obeying the law.

ok, lets face it... PA cops drive around with their sunglasses on and a phone to their ear. last time i checked it was illegal.. so why do they get to drive around and chat. no one else does, well unless they know you and dont ticket you.. sorry but it just isnt fair. maybe they shouyld get a 275.00 fine and see if they like it...maybe if they followed and enforced the rules people wouldnt have such a hard time following them...

I try to follow the law on almost all occations,then I see P.A.officer aliking on his cell phone while driving and wonder do I have a right as a citizen to stop him and charge, if we a citizens did have that right then maybe our officiers would follow the laws a lot better,and our streets would become safer.Police or not talking on the phone is wrong and if they are the cause of an accident,would they take that blame?

Who's going to give them a ticket? Police break the law all the time, it's one of the perks of the job. That, and free coffee. ;)

when are people going to learn there are two sets of laws.one for people without a badge and none for people with one.i see officers break the law all the time..failing to stop at stop signs,not signalling while changing lanes or turning corners,illegal parking in fire lanes next too fire hydrants down town,driving while using cell phones,speeding a lot,,,etc.,etc. I am going to mount a camera on my dash and tape them then post it on you tube should get a million hits at least lmao.

http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/road_safety/cellphone_ban_faq.html

"Who is exempt from this new legislation?

Police, fire and emergency medical services personnel are permitted to use hand-held cellphones in the performance of their duties."

FYI.

If you want the issue 'Fixed' (assuming that is the point of this forum) maybe start with SGI. According to SGI police are allowed to use cell phones while driving. Found this info on the SGI website when researching after my brother got a ticket for same.

Police,Ambulance,Fire(emergency personel)may drive and use a cell phone in the course of thier duties. Anyone may drive and use a cell phone when calling 911. Its been this way since the law came into effect over a year ago!

its still a law and no one should be exempt from the law you can't up hold the laws by breaking them im gonna start a site where people can post pictures of police using cell phones while driving then send that site down to regina and no their lights went on i also fallowed a couple police cruisers down 15th street doing 70 with out their lights on thats also wrong they are required to have their light on while speeding through the residential areas aren't they ?

what are they going to do give me a speeding ticket ha ha that woulda been funny cause i woulda fought that in court

it is against the law even in the performances of their duty,s they are supposedto have hands free like other citizens also they are not supposed to be using their computer while driving
Ruglenbhoy

Check on SGI. http://www.sgi.sk.ca/individuals/safety/distraction/cellphones.html. Police, fire and emergency medical services personnel are permitted to use hand-held cellphones in the performance of their duties.

Know the details before you start complaining!

hello i really like this blogg about the cops were is ther hands free stuff and 275 for a ticket seriously way to much the average person has to work 3 days to pay for this how do expect people to live with ticket prices that high give a cop that ticket and see how he feels, how is the average family guy who has rent/morgage car payments kids to feed like come on pa police service

If you don't want to pay the ticket then stay off the cell phone wile you are driving. 20 years ago this was not a problem as people somehow managed to drive without needing to have a phone against their ear so why not try to do like we did back then, wait until you get were your going befor talking on the phone. It aint that hard and it's a lot better than waiting for the ambulance and fire truck and tow truck...after the accident.

Well said TJ that includes everybody no matter wich proffesion they are in the law is for everybody to obey and hands free is the safest way for all!~!!!!

s.241.1 Saskatchewan Traffic Safety Act- Please read

http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/english/Statutes/Statutes/T18-1.pdf

Its states the exemption for Peace Officers in the line of duty to use a cell phone.

Saskatchewan
Introduced in 1986, Saskatchewan's Highway Traffic Act, under Section 44, defines driving with due care and states that no person shall drive a vehicle on a highway without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway.

Section 71(1) of the same act governs the proper use of televisions, computers and other electronic devices. Motorists are not permitted to operate a vehicle equipped with an electronic device that includes a screen except if the equipment is securely and safely mounted in the vehicle, located in a manner that does not obstruct the view of the driver or is not visible to the driver. Images displayed on a television set, video screen or computer screen should only be visible if they are designed to assist the driver in ensuring the safety of the vehicle's load or its passengers, or for one of the following reasons: to navigate; to display the time; if the driver is a peace officer, to carry out his or her duties as a peace officer, including to assess fees or charges payable by passengers or users of the vehicle.

Motorists convicted under either of these offences may be subject to a fine of no more than $2,000.

Dont see anything suggesting police or any other service can use hand held device but it may be that you are a wannee be cop and read things a little differant from for your own benifit

Don't police use radios for communication?

There are many devices that help the police in there every day work and the way they comunicate with people and the police department, 1, is the hand held radio then today is the cell phone. There is also on board computors in the emergency vehicles.
We pay our fines if we are caught using any of these items. We could report the said police officer who is using any said device. If they crash because of it, they could cover up their side of the story.
So how do we fix it. I was thinking have your passenger video it on thier cell phone and write down their car license plate. There can be no aruguement there. It is to bad that they are excepted by the way laws are made but that can be changed if we ban together, lobby to the said law makers and to the politions who pass them. One voice is little but you have a group you have a voice.
In respect to the police you do ok in the work they do. Bye blue tooth. Keeps everyone happy. Police departments will be glad to pay for it.
Have a great day out there.