Caught on camera in a conversation behind the wheel, Mayor Larry O'Brien disclosed Saturday that he has donated a sum of money to charity in excess of the provincial fine for using a cell on the roads.
"Obviously a mayor of the City of Ottawa has to be held to a higher standard than the average individual, and I recognize that," said O'Brien.
His picture was captured by a passenger in a vehicle driving down Highway 416 last Sunday, and splashed across local media last week.
The fine for using a cell phone on the road in Ontario is $155. O'Brien said he answered the phone because his hands-free device malfunctioned, but gave assurances it wouldn't happen again.
Charities O'Brien donated to were the Wiggle Waggle Walk-A-Thon, the Ottawa Heart Institute's Bike For Beats and the Pakistan Fund Relief Program.