Stephenson's

Electronic Device Ban for Motorists takes effect October 26th

Ontario’s ban on the use of cellphones, BlackBerrys and other hand-held electronic devices by drivers will take effect Oct. 26.

Motorists can expect a three-month education period when the ban first comes into effect, which means police will show some leniency.

But police will begin issuing tickets next Feb. 1.

Ontario drivers could be fined up to $500 if they’re caught using their hand-held cellphones or BlackBerrys to talk, email or send text messages while behind the wheel.

The government has said hands-free devices aren’t covered by the legislation, but they are not recommended for use while driving.

Ontario is the fourth province to enact such a ban, following Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Manitoba has introduced similar legislation.

Drivers are also banned from using portable video games and DVD players but they are allowed to use their cellphones for 911 calls.

Global positioning systems are allowed, as long as they’re properly secured to the dashboard.

There are no demerit points attached to the Ontario law, unlike in other provinces.

However, Ontario motorists using a banned cellphone could also be charged under careless driving laws and face fines, six demerit points, a driver’s licence suspension and even jail time.

The new Canadian DO NOT CALL List is coming September 30th

September 3, 2008

Starting September 30, residential wireline and consumer wireless customers who want to reduce unsolicited telemarketing calls can register Canadian telephone numbers (home phone, mobile and fax) on a new National Do Not Call List (NDNCL). There is no charge to register on the NDNCL.

People who register on the DNCL can expect to receive a reduced number of unsolicited telemarketing calls. Telemarketers are also required to maintain their own do not call lists, which people must register on separately to reduce or avoid calls.

The NDNCL rules do not apply to a telemarketing calls made to business customers.

You can register your numbers on the NDNCL in one of the following ways:

Numbers registered on the NDNCL will be added within 24 hours but telemarketers will have 31 days to update their telemarketing calling lists. So you could continue to receive telemarketing calls up to a month following registration.

Will customers still receive telemarketing calls after the 31-day period?

Possibly because some calls are exempt from the NDNCL rules, including some calls from:

• Registered charities
• Political parties
• Nomination contestants, leadership contestants or candidates of a political party
• Opinion polling firms or market research firms conducting surveys when the call does not involve the sale of a product or service
• Newspapers calling for the purpose of selling a subscription
• Businesses that have an existing relationship with the customer

Groups exempt from the NDNCL (except for those collecting information for a survey) are required to keep their own do not call lists.

What do customers do if they get calls after they are on the NDNCL?

They can lodge a complaint online or by calling 1-866-580-DNCL (3625), providing:

• Their telephone number
• Name and/or number of the telemarketer
• Date of the telemarketing call
• Nature of the complaint
• If it was a fax, a copy of the fax

The complaint must be filed within 14 days of receiving the telemarketing call. An investigator will follow up and determine if the rules have been broken.

CRTC definitions

• Telemarketing means the use of telecommunications facilities to make unsolicited telecommunications for the purpose of solicitation

• Solicitation means the selling or promoting of a product or service, or the soliciting of money or money’s worth, whether directly or indirectly and whether on behalf of another person. This includes solicitation of donations by or on behalf of charitable organizations