MORE than 1000 drivers have been taken to court in the Strathclyde Police area over the last three years for using hand-held mobile phones.
A total of 905 were prosecuted in district courts and 109 cases were heard in sheriff courts.
SNP spokesman Stewart Maxwell warned drivers had to learn the offence was as unacceptable as drinking and driving.
The figures, broken down by areas covered by procurator-fiscals' offices, reveal there were 359 cases in Glasgow, 197 in Hamilton, 111 in Paisley but two in Campbeltown.
The total number of prosecutions across Scotland was 1883.
There were 188 in Edinburgh, 128 in Dundee, 98 in Aberdeen and 33 in Inverness and 422 elsewhere.
The most law-abiding drivers were in Kirkwall, Orkney, where there were no prosecutions.
The figures, which emerged in a Parliamentary answer to the SNP, are separate from the number of drivers issued with £30 fixed penalties.
It was revealed last month 12,017 motorists in Scotland were found using a hand-held phone when driving last year, against 7563 in 2004.
Almost 7000 drivers were fined in west Scotland, with police issuing the £30 fixed penalties to 6924 offenders, against 4777 the previous year.
Mr Maxwell said: "People who illegally use their mobiles while driving are not only a danger to themselves, they are also a danger to others.
"Studies have shown that using a mobile while driving can be as dangerous as driving while over the alcohol limit."
An RAC survey showed four in 10 drivers ignored the law and campaigners want stricter enforcement.
Under a Road Safety Bill, currently going through the Commons, drivers caught using hand-held mobile phones will face tougher penalties - three points on their licence and a £60 fine.
PROSECUTIONS IN STRATHCLYDE
Airdrie: 42
Ayr: 70
Dumbarton: 81
Glasgow: 359
Greenock: 44
Hamilton: 197
Kilmarnock: 80
Lanark: 16
Paisley: 111
Others: 14
TOTAL: 1014
Prosecutions broken down by Procurator Fiscal offices
Publication date 30/05/06
MORE than 1000 drivers have been taken to court in the Strathclyde Police area over the last three years for using hand-held mobile phones.
A total of 905 were prosecuted in district courts and 109 cases were heard in sheriff courts.
SNP spokesman Stewart Maxwell warned drivers had to learn the offence was as unacceptable as drinking and driving.
The figures, broken down by areas covered by procurator-fiscals' offices, reveal there were 359 cases in Glasgow, 197 in Hamilton, 111 in Paisley but two in Campbeltown.
The total number of prosecutions across Scotland was 1883.
There were 188 in Edinburgh, 128 in Dundee, 98 in Aberdeen and 33 in Inverness and 422 elsewhere.
The most law-abiding drivers were in Kirkwall, Orkney, where there were no prosecutions.
The figures, which emerged in a Parliamentary answer to the SNP, are separate from the number of drivers issued with £30 fixed penalties.
It was revealed last month 12,017 motorists in Scotland were found using a hand-held phone when driving last year, against 7563 in 2004.
Almost 7000 drivers were fined in west Scotland, with police issuing the £30 fixed penalties to 6924 offenders, against 4777 the previous year.
Mr Maxwell said: "People who illegally use their mobiles while driving are not only a danger to themselves, they are also a danger to others.
"Studies have shown that using a mobile while driving can be as dangerous as driving while over the alcohol limit."
An RAC survey showed four in 10 drivers ignored the law and campaigners want stricter enforcement.
Under a Road Safety Bill, currently going through the Commons, drivers caught using hand-held mobile phones will face tougher penalties - three points on their licence and a £60 fine.
PROSECUTIONS IN STRATHCLYDE
Airdrie: 42
Ayr: 70
Dumbarton: 81
Glasgow: 359
Greenock: 44
Hamilton: 197
Kilmarnock: 80
Lanark: 16
Paisley: 111
Others: 14
TOTAL: 1014
Prosecutions broken down by Procurator Fiscal offices
Publication date 30/05/06
MORE than 1000 drivers have been taken to court in the Strathclyde Police area over the last three years for using hand-held mobile phones.
A total of 905 were prosecuted in district courts and 109 cases were heard in sheriff courts.
SNP spokesman Stewart Maxwell warned drivers had to learn the offence was as unacceptable as drinking and driving.
The figures, broken down by areas covered by procurator-fiscals' offices, reveal there were 359 cases in Glasgow, 197 in Hamilton, 111 in Paisley but two in Campbeltown.
The total number of prosecutions across Scotland was 1883.
There were 188 in Edinburgh, 128 in Dundee, 98 in Aberdeen and 33 in Inverness and 422 elsewhere.
The most law-abiding drivers were in Kirkwall, Orkney, where there were no prosecutions.
The figures, which emerged in a Parliamentary answer to the SNP, are separate from the number of drivers issued with £30 fixed penalties.
It was revealed last month 12,017 motorists in Scotland were found using a hand-held phone when driving last year, against 7563 in 2004.
Almost 7000 drivers were fined in west Scotland, with police issuing the £30 fixed penalties to 6924 offenders, against 4777 the previous year.
Mr Maxwell said: "People who illegally use their mobiles while driving are not only a danger to themselves, they are also a danger to others.
"Studies have shown that using a mobile while driving can be as dangerous as driving while over the alcohol limit."
An RAC survey showed four in 10 drivers ignored the law and campaigners want stricter enforcement.
Under a Road Safety Bill, currently going through the Commons, drivers caught using hand-held mobile phones will face tougher penalties - three points on their licence and a £60 fine.
PROSECUTIONS IN STRATHCLYDE
Airdrie: 42
Ayr: 70
Dumbarton: 81
Glasgow: 359
Greenock: 44
Hamilton: 197
Kilmarnock: 80
Lanark: 16
Paisley: 111
Others: 14





