Politics & Government
Hassan to Make the Call on Cellphone Driving Ban
Driver use of handheld cellphones could soon be against the law.
Using a hand-held cellphone while driving could soon be against the law in New Hampshire.
The state House of Representatives passed the bill to prohibit the use of certain mobile electronic devices, and Gov. Maggie Hassan's office has indicated she will sign it into law.
Called the Distracted Driver Law, the ban would take effect July 1, 2015.
It would not be an offense for a driver to use their cell phone to report an emergency, to use one hand to transmit or get messages over non-cellular two-way radio, or via a hands-free electronic device, according to the bill.
A driver breaking this law would be guilty of a violation and subject to a $100 fine for first offense, $250 for second offense, and $500 for subsequent offenses within a two-year period, not including any penalty assessments.
The bill prohibits any driver under 18 from using a cell or mobile phone with or without hands-free capabilities, except to report an emergency.
The bill's sponsors are: Rep. Laura Pantelakos, D-Portsmouth, Rep. Delmar Burridge, D-Keene, and Rep. Robert Theberge, D-Berlin.
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The Senate previously passed the bill. The House passed it May 7 by voice vote. The New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association praised the passage, calling it a significant step toward making roads safer.
"We know that cell phones and mobile devices are a major distraction for all drivers, threatening the safety of roadways for all of us," Pete McNamara, president of the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, said in a press release. "We need to send a clear message to all drivers: put down the cell phone and keep your eyes on the road."McNamara pointed to 2013 highway statistics to show the bill's need. There were 135 highway deaths in 2013, a 20 percent increase from 2012, he said. And New Hampshire Department of Safety reports that 30 percent of fatal accidents are the result of distracted driving.
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