New cell phone laws in Ma

The Safe Driving Law becomes effective in Massachusetts on September 30, 2010. The law creates a series of new violations, which the RMV Division, MassDOT IT staff and the Merit Rating Board are working to program and implement.

These new violations include:

1. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Junior Operator
Civil Offense- No insurance surcharge (Reporting an emergency is the only exception. Drivers are encouraged to pull over and stop the vehicle to report the emergency.)
1st offense-$100 assessment 60-day license suspension and attitudinal course
2nd offense-$250 assessment 180-day suspension
3rd or subsequent offense-$500 assessment 1-year suspension
$100 reinstatement fee for any suspension
Knowledge and road test required for reinstatement

2. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Motor Vehicle Operator Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge
$500 assessment each offense

3. Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Non-Motor Vehicle Operator Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (MBTA Trolley)
$500 assessment each violation

4. Improper Use of a Mobile Phone by Operators 18 and Over
Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (One hand must be on the steering wheel at all times and no use of device can interfere with driving)
1st offense-$35 assessment
2nd offense in 12 months-$75 assessment
3rd offense in 12 months-$150 assessment

5. Sending/Reading Text Messages
Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (Operators cannot use any mobile electronic device to write, send, or read an electronic message including text messages, emails, instant messages or accessing the internet while operating a vehicle. Mobile electronic device includes mobile telephone, text messaging device, paging device, PDA, laptop computer, electronic equipment capable of playing video games or video disks or can take/transmit digital photographs or can receive a television broadcast. Mobile Device does not include any equipment permanently or temporarily installed to provide navigation, emergency assistance or rear seat video entertainment. Law applies even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.)
1st offense-$100 assessment
2nd offense-$250 assessment
3rd or subsequent offense-$500 assessment

6. Negligent Operation & Injury from Mobile Phone Use
Criminal Offense- Insurance surcharge

JOL Suspensions
1st offense-180-day suspension
2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension
$500 reinstatement fee
Over-18 suspensions
1st offense-60-day suspension
2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years-1 year suspension
$500 reinstatement fee