POLICE are to have a fresh blitz on drivers using mobile phones while behind the wheel.

They say motorists are openly flouting the law by continuing to use their phones – even though the punishment was toughened this year.

It used to be a £30 fine, but since February drivers have been given a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licences.

But the new legislation has failed to deter many drivers.

So Kirklees Council and the police have got together to run a campaign in Huddersfield at the end of this month and into the early part of November.

This means police patrols will be actively looking for drivers using mobile phones.

Kirklees is putting up display boards in car parks urging people not to use their phones while driving.

But police say people are constantly ignoring the law.

Pc Ray Terry, from Huddersfield traffic police, said: “When officers are in marked police cars people using their phones quickly throw them down to avoid being seen.

“But when we use an unmarked car we see and catch loads of drivers. It’s not unusual for an officer in an unmarked car to catch five a day.

“No-one gets warnings any more. It’s an immediate ticket.’’

Some drivers try to come up with excuses – but they don’t get them off the hook.

Pc Phil Shaw said: “One woman claimed she wasn’t talking on her mobile phone; she said she was just listening.

“Others just ask to be let off with a warning; but now it’s enforcement. They try to hide the phone with their hand while driving, but it’s obvious what they are doing.

“I followed one man in a van pulling a trailer all the way up New Hey Road from Lindley to Salendine Nook. He was on the phone and at one point was weaving about between lanes. When I tried to stop him he was still talking and his excuse was he was talking business.’’

Pc Shaw said that after accidents police seize mobile phones, so can prove if the driver was using it when the crash happened.

He added: “Just don’t risk using your phone. It’s not worth it. If you end up with points on your licence your insurance premiums could go up. If you already have points it could lead to a ban.’’

Drivers who opt to take the case to magistrates’ court can end up with whopping fines.

The maximum fine is £1,000, which increases to £2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches.

Pc Terry added: “The courts have the power to considerably raise the level of the fine. People have to have a good reason to take the case to court for magistrates to have a look at it.’’

A recent report by breakdown company Green Flag on safe driving discovered that although 88% of motorists agreed with the law 37% admitted they still used a mobile while driving.

Research by scientists at the Transport Research Laboratory says talking on a mobile phone while driving is more dangerous than being over the legal alcohol limit.

The researchers found that drivers on mobiles had slower reaction times and stopping times than those under the influence of alcohol.

Clr Martyn Bolt, Kirklees Cabinet’s member responsible for roads, said: “I have campaigned for many years for tough action on those who use mobile communications equipment while driving without hands-free facilities. Hands-free kits are very cheap compared to the cost of an accident.’’