KENT Police have so far issued nearly 70 notices to drivers caught driving while using handheld mobile phones.

The culprits will have to pay a £60 fine and receive three penalty points instead of the previous £30 fine.

The new measure was introduced on Tuesday, February 27.

The figures include two people who will receive a court summons because the three penalty points have taken them over the 12 points limit on their licence.

The first motorist stopped by officers in North Kent was a driver who already had 12 points on their licence.

Ch Insp John Frayne said: "We are encouraged by the many who have listened to the messages and stopped endangering the lives of themselves and others by using handheld mobile phones whilst driving.

"However, we will continue to support the law and will not tolerate motorists who continue to put lives at risk.

"As police officers we see first hand the devastation caused by motorists who have been distracted when using their mobile phones. Making the roads of Kent a safer place is our priority.

"We hope these tougher penalties will make drivers think twice before they text or make or answer a call behind the wheel."

The increase in penalties is part of an ongoing government and police road safety campaign to reduce the number of road traffic collisions involving drivers using handheld mobile phones.

Research has shown people using a mobile phone while driving are more dangerous than drink drivers, are four times more likely to have a crash and have their reaction time reduced by half.

Kent Police figures suggest that up to five percent of road traffic collisions involving serious injuries or fatalities in the county are as a result of drivers using a handheld mobile phone immediately before or at the time of the accident.

In 2006 (January-December) Kent Police issued 4,680 fixed penalty notices to drivers caught using a handheld mobile phone. Four fixed penalty notices were handed out to those using a handheld mobile phone while supervising a learner driver.

For cases that reach court, the penalties for using a handheld phone can result in a large fine of up to a maximum of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches, as well as possible disqualification from driving.