Playing Pokemon Go while driving a no-no, say police

Despite bringing people together outdoors with the goal of capturing as many Pokemon characters as they can, the latest smartphone game craze — Pokemon Go — is causing some players to commit some Pokemon No-Nos.

Police in the United States have seen cases of players trespassing and walking into traffic to collect the virtual creatures that appear on streets and landmarks via the screen of a mobile device, according to Alyson Edwards, spokesperson with the Saskatoon Police Service.

She said Saskatoon police are watching how other jurisdictions are responding to unsafe behaviour associated with playing the game.

“It could have an impact either with criminal charges or injury or worse in regard to public safety,” she said.

Saskatoon radio host Seth Armstrong said twice this week, he witnessed people playing the game while driving. The first time was on the University of Saskatchewan campus and the second incident happened while he was out for a walk. In both cases, Armstrong said he was close enough to see the game flickering on the drivers’ cellphone screens.

“I think it’s pure laziness. (The game) is meant for you to get out and walk and get some exercise,” he said, pointing out that although the vehicles were going slowly, they were still moving. Armstrong said one driver even ended up on the wrong side of the road.

“Sure, you’re not texting while driving, but you’re still using your cellphone,” he said. “That’s still distracted driving.”

Armstrong said he was tempted to approach the vehicle, tap on the window and tell the driver to stop playing, but called it a tricky situation. Edwards encourages anyone who sees people playing the game while driving — or using their cellphone in any way behind the wheel — to try and get a licence plate and call police.

The penalty would be the same as it is for texting while driving — a $280 fine.

Edwards said so far, police have not received any formal complaints about drivers playing Pokemon Go. She hopes people will use common sense as the game continues to gain popularity in Canada.

“We want to warn people that just because this is a video game, putting you in a semi-virtual reality, that doesn’t mean that the laws don’t apply to you.”