Suffolk Police urges motorists not to film crash sites
The force said several drivers were caught offending during an incident in August.
Seven motorists were caught filming the scene of a crash on the A14, which resulted in the closure of one of the carriageways for several hours, as they drove past.
Four of them were HGV drivers.
Suffolk Police is reminding people it is illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving.
That law applies even when you are stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic or supervising a learner driver.
A £200 fine and six points on your licence is the basic penalty of using a mobile phone behind the wheel - or handlebars of a motorcycle - and those who have been driving for less than two years would lose their licence.
If you are taken to court it could result in a driving ban and a £1,000 fine, or £2,500 if you are driving a lorry or bus.
Sergeant Barry Abbott, of the Serious Crime Investigation Unit, said: "People in control of a vehicle who film collisions scenes are not only breaking the law, but are also being highly insensitive.
"I know we live in a world where some people want to film everything and post it on social media, but drivers should take a moment to think about the individuals involved in that collision, along with their family and friends.
"Ultimately though, they are committing an offence and if caught will be prosecuted, as this recent example shows. It doesn’t matter if you are stuck in slow-moving or stationary traffic, it is still illegal to use your phone whilst behind the wheel - or handlebars if using a motorcycle.
"It is an extremely dangerous act that often results in other collisions. In fact, my Inspector in the SCIU was forced to close the opposite carriageway on the A12 a couple of years ago when attending a serious collision there, as this is exactly what happened.
"If you speak to anyone who has attended the scene of a serious collision – which is something my colleagues & I have had to do on too many occasions – then they will tell you that they are usually a distressing place to be and certainly not something that should be filmed by members of the public.
"It is extremely disappointing that four of the seven people caught in this instance were lorry drivers, as they are professional motorists and should know better. All the drivers involved will now face a financial penalty and could lose their licence depending on how many points they already have, or if they are a new driver.!
Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk, Tim Passmore, added: "I absolutely urge all drivers to pay heed to this important message. Using your phone behind the wheel is illegal and using it to film a collision scene is not only highly dangerous, but massively insensitive.
"I am very pleased to see the Constabulary stamping down on this completely irresponsible behaviour and hope it serves as a reminder to all drivers to keep their phones out of reach when they are behind the wheel."
The seven motorists caught offending in August were all issued with Traffic Offence Reports.