New hands-free law goes into effect this weekend - What you need to know!

As drivers are out on the roads this weekend, a new law will take effect this Sunday, February 23. A distracted driving law was passed to ban all cell phone use while driving, except for devices in hands-free mode. The ban closes a loophole in the 2010 distracted driving law that made it virtually impossible for police to enforce the ban on texting while driving. The law won’t prohibit drivers from making phone calls but they’ll need to be aware of a number of new rules.

Here’s what you need to know!

  • Massachusetts already bans texting while driving and all handheld phone use by drivers under the age of 18. The new law now means that this will also now apply to adult drivers, unless their device is in hands-free mode.

  • Drivers under the age of 18 are still prohibited from any sort of phone use, even in hands-free mode.

  • Adult drivers may still make calls, but only by using a hands-free device, like a bluetooth earpiece or speaker, or wearable technology like an AppleWatch. Whatever the technology, drivers must have both hands available to operate the vehicle.

  • If you must make a call without a hands-free device, you must pull over or off the roadway, without blocking traffic to make the call.

  • To make a call while driving, or use a GPS device, drivers must use a voice command or virtual assistant like Siri to operate the device. With exceptions for emergencies, drivers must abide by a “one-touch” rule to receive or dictate a message or to make a call.

Here’s what it could cost you:

  • For a first offense, police may issue a $100 ticket. Upon a second offense, a $250 ticket, and upon a third or any subsequent violation, a $500 ticket.

  • After a second offense, drivers will be required to complete a course on distracted driving.

  • Just like a speeding ticket, drivers who continue to get pulled over and ticketed will be subject to insurance surcharges.

From Sunday through the end of March, law enforcement will be in a public education mode, where warnings will be issued, but soon - drivers can expect to receive a ticket if they are pulled over for having a phone in their hands.

We encourage all drivers to operate their vehicles with care and remain focused on the road!