"[PSA] Change in the law for UK drivers and mobile phones"

#PokemonGO: As of today (1st March) the penalty for 'operating a mobile device' whilst driving has increased.6 points on your license.If you've been driving less than 2 years, you'll lose it.£200 fine."Operating a device" is basically anything that involves touching your phone. That includes reprogramming the satnav, or switching which channel spotify is playing.The only exceptions are:Emergency services calls when it's otherwise unsafe to pull over.When you are parked - which means pulled over, not moving, engine off, lights off.What this means is it's illegal to pull over and 'do gyms' or 'pokestops' without turning your engine off. It's illegal to do it even if the traffic in stationary traffic. (it's illegal and dangerous when the traffic isn't stationary/slow moving)That means the only way you can play PoGo as a driver is:Install 'Proximity Service' or similar.Put it face down on the passenger seat. Face up would mean 'a screen in direct view of the driver' and that's also illegal. A sat nav or display for a radio/in car system is different - so you can, if you are running sat nav on your phone be ok. But you'd be hard pressed convincing a court of law that Pokemon Go is a sat nav.Clock up egg/buddy distance (don't swap them)You can, of course, pull up and park your car, before operating your phone in range of a gym or pokestop.Now, that's not to say they'll instantly crack down and be zero tolerance. It's usually not worth the hassle unless there's something unsafe happening - e.g. if you're pulled over properly, but still have the engine running, I doubt any police officer is going to care. But at the same time - you are reliant on their goodwill at that point, so be polite - annoying the police pretty much never ends well.Source via /r/TheSilphRoad http://ift.tt/2mEpBz5