If you got a ticket for using your smartphone while driving on the West Island recently, you weren't alone.
Montreal police set up shop last week along northbound 13 service road, looking specifically for texters and drivers, and then handing them tickets.
This operation — part of a larger province-wide operation against distracted driving — happened between Monday and Friday of last week, for three hours per day, usually during the evening rush hour.
During those 15 hours, they nabbed 302 people — each of whom was handed a fine of $486, plus five demerit points on their licences.
Martin Bernier with Montreal police says the crackdown is a matter of public safety, owing to the increased number of accidents while driving.
"People lose sight of the road while they're using their phones," Bernier says, "so when they text on the road, it increases the likelihood of collisions."
Bernier warns other operations are coming, in other parts of town — and whether or not there's a localized police operation, they'll continue to be on the look out for drivers with smartphones in their hands, or laps.