THE number of motorists caught driving while using a mobile phone has gone up again according to new figures from Dorset Police.

And now police are issuing fresh warnings to drivers not to be complacent about the law which can result in a £1,000 fine in the worst cases.

Between March 1 and November 1 this year 1,511 tickets were issued by Dorset Police to motorists caught driving while using a mobile phone.

It became an endorseable offence on February 27 this year, netting guilty motorists three points and a £60 fine.

In the period from March 1 2006 and November 1 2006 Dorset Police issued 1,324 tickets to motorists when the offence was non-endorseable and resulted in a £30 fine.

Nationally the government makes £1 million a month from motorists fined for using mobile phones at the wheel.

And the number of drivers caught nationally rose by almost 40 per cent to nearly 200,000.

Since using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel was made illegal in December 2003, figures from Dorset have shown a steady increase.

The legislation also extends to drivers who fail to have proper control of a vehicle while using a hands-free mobile phone and to driving instructors who are not permitted to use a mobile while carrying out instruction.

Sgt Scott Oliphant of Dorset Police Road Policing Unit, said one reason for the increase may be that police are becoming ever more vigilant.

He said: "I think part of that increase is the fact the level of enforcement by officers in Dorset Police has been increased to reflect the seriousness of the offence, and to reflect the consequences of an accident occurring if you are taking a phone call because your concentration is diverted away from the main task.

"That's one reason why the penalty has risen to £60 and three penalty points. That fine can go up to £1,000 if it goes to court or £2,500 for buses and goods vehicle drivers.

"We've seen the dramatic consequences of collisions when people have been using mobile phones so officers are taking it very seriously."