House passes bill restricting cellphone use in cars

January 23, 2008 04:12 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

The state House of Representatives passed a bill today that would ban drivers from text messaging and using hand-held phones by a vote of 107 to 47.

The measure, which still faces a vote in the Senate, would fine violators $100 to $500. The use of hands-free technology would be allowed, so drivers could still talk on cellphones as long as they had earpieces. About a dozen bills were filed on the issue last year, but they failed to gain traction on Beacon Hill.

Melissa Martin of Southbridge watched today's vote and began to cry when her lawmakers discussed her 17-year-old daughter, Amanda, who was killed in October in Charlton when her car went off the road and hit a tree as she drove to school. Police believe text messaging may have been to blame for the accident because she received a message at 7:22 a.m., three minutes before the crash.

“I’m happy it is going to the next level,” Melissa Martin said.

The legislation would also ban drivers from using pagers, PDAs, and laptops. It would not affect audio equipment or Global Positioning Systems, and would not apply to public safety officials or civilians responding to emergencies.

Under current law, Massachusetts police can hand out tickets for distractions that impede driving, such as having unwieldy items hanging from a rear-view mirror or eating while trying to drive, but the law allows the use of cellphones as long one hand remains on the wheel.
In addition to fines, the legislation would suspend the license of drivers under age 18. They would lose their license for 60 days for the first offense; 180 days for the second; and a year for the third.

California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia have banned drivers from using hand-held cellphones, although hands-free devices are allowed.