This week Waikato Police will be focusing their attention on motorists who are more focused on using handheld devices as they drive.

Starting today, police across the country will target distracted drivers who put lives at risk by using phones, tablets, i-pods, and other devices instead of concentrating on the road and their driving.

This week police will be cracking down on motorists who use mobile phones, tablets, i-pods and other devices while driving as part of a nationwide campaign. Photo: File

Over a 12 month period from June 2014, a total of 1,667 motorists across the Waikato region were stopped by police for using hand-held devices while driving, resulting in $130,960 in fines.

In the Eastern Waikato policing area – which the Thames-Coromandel district falls under – a total of 317 motorists were stopped, resulting in $24,880 in fines over that same 12 month period.

National road policing manager Superintendent Steve Greally is concerned by the number of people caught using their phones while driving, despite legislation being in place since November 2009.

This makes it illegal to text or use a mobile phone when driving – even when a car is stationary at traffic lights or in a queue.

'Given that the law has been in place for more than five years now, there really is no excuse for drivers to keep offending,” says Steve.

'While mobile technology has increasingly allowed us all to stay connected, no text, call or social media update is so important it's worth risking life and limb for – or those of others on the road.”

The penalty for offending is an $80 infringement fee and 20 demerit points. For repeated offending, people can lose their licence, given that each offence carries with it 20 demerit points.

If 100 points are accumulated within 2 years, this results in an automatic loss of licence for three months.

While cell phones and other transmitting devices are a major contributor to distraction behind the wheel, Steve says these aren't the only high risk behaviours police will be targeting.

This includes putting on makeup, shaving, reading and being distracted by passengers are frequent examples that we come across.

Though there is no specific infringement offence for these other types of distractions, they can result in a more serious charge of careless driving, which requires a court appearance.

'Careless driving has stiffer penalties, with a fine of up to $3,000 fine and the potential for licence disqualification,” adds Steve.

'This is not all that these distracted drivers are risking – they are also at much greater risk of a fatal or serious crash if not paying full attention to driving, which could have tragic or life-altering consequences for them or other road users.”

Police will also be on the lookout for other high risk behaviours, such as people not wearing their safety belts and failing to stop at intersections.