Motorists will soon see more than just a fine when it comes to distracted driving violations.

The government has implemented demerit points be added to your driving record if convicted of distracted driving effective as of January 1st.

Okotoks Municipal Enforcement Manager Tim Stobbs says when you add demerits to any traffic violation, you see the numbers go down.

"If you look at people when they get a ticket , the first question they ask is 'Are there any demerits and if there are how many?' he says. "It effects their insurance, it can effect their insurance for a number of years or in some case if you're a young driver or have a number of offenses you could end up walking instead of driving for a period of time."

Stobbs says he sees a lot people either on their cell phone or distracting themselves in other ways when they should be keeping two eyes on the road at all times and is in favour of the demerits added to distracted driving tickets.

"I'm hopeful and I say hopeful that this will effect the way people manage themselves with distracted driving," he says. "People don't understand its like impaired driving or worse than impaired driving sometimes when people aren't paying attention driving down the road."

He adds the price tag behind a ticket isn't cheap either.

"$257 and three demerits," Stobbs says. "People, please don't do it, like I say it can be worse at times compared to impaired driving and people not paying attention do end up hurting themselves and others and that's not what we want to do when we're on our highways."