Distracted Driving: Calgary Police Increase Enforcement Before Major Fine Hikes

CALGARY, AB — Calgary drivers caught texting or scrolling behind the wheel are facing tighter enforcement this month, with even steeper penalties set to take effect tomorrow.

The Calgary Police Service has ramped up distracted driving enforcement throughout February, designated as Distracted Driving Prevention Month on Alberta's Traffic Safety Calendar. During targeted patrols in downtown Calgary this month, CPS traffic unit members issued 16 tickets and four warnings to drivers violating the province's distracted driving laws.

What Changes Tomorrow

Starting February 25, 2026, major changes to Alberta's driving regulations take effect. Fines for serious violations, including distracted driving, could jump to as high as $2,000—up from the current $300 standard penalty. The new rules also introduce potential license suspensions for repeat or severe offenders.

Under Alberta's Traffic Safety Act, distracted driving includes using hand-held cell phones, texting, emailing, programming GPS units, reading, writing, and personal grooming—even when stopped at a red light. The current penalty remains $300 and three demerit points until tomorrow's changes kick in.

Recent Enforcement Highlights

CPS has been actively targeting distracted drivers across the city. On January 30, 2026, officers issued a $300 fine to a northwest Calgary driver caught texting and eating simultaneously. On February 9, another driver received a ticket on Stoney Trail for having a cellphone placed directly on the steering wheel.

In 2025, Calgary Police issued 1,850 distracted driving tickets. Across Alberta, RCMP handed out 3,337 tickets for the same offense.

Vision Zero and Budget Pressures

The crackdown aligns with CPS's 2026 Traffic Safety Plan, which aims to reduce distracted driving as part of Calgary's broader Safer Mobility Plan. The city has adopted a 'Vision Zero' goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and major injuries on Calgary roads.

Meanwhile, CPS faces ongoing budget challenges. In February 2025, Chief Mark Neufeld reported a $28 million shortfall tied partly to provincial cuts in automated traffic enforcement revenue. The 2026 operating budget for CPS stands at $613 million, up from $541 million in 2025, with $59 million in adjustments accounting for lost fine revenue.

A $100,000 public awareness campaign launched in September 2025 continues into the second quarter of 2026, focusing on the human cost of traffic fatalities.

With enforcement intensifying and fines set to skyrocket, Calgary drivers have one more day under the old penalty structure—then the stakes get significantly higher.