Man handed 5th distracted driving charge for using cellphone on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa

An Ottawa driver was hit with his fifth straight distracted driving offence on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Ontario Provincial Police/X)

An Ottawa driver faces his fifth distracted driving charge for using a cellphone behind the wheel on Sunday.

Ontario Provincial Police say officers caught the driver with his wife and children in the car while on Highway 417.

Police say his most recent conviction for distracted driving was on Dec. 10. He had been charged with the same offence three times prior to that.

The charge comes with a $615 fine and six demerit points.

He could face escalated sanctions, according to police, including a 30-day driving ban upon conviction.