Tisbury Police Offer To Help With Hands-Free Transition

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA — Tisbury police began 2020 reminding residents about the new enforcement of the state's distracted driving law starting Feb. 23. After a Facebook suggestion from an island resident, they are now looking to help residents get ready for the transition.

Starting on Feb. 23, police said drivers will begin receiving warnings for not using a hands-free cell phone device while driving or stopped in an active lane. Ticket enforcement begins in March. But when a resident expressed a concern for older drivers who might not be as adept at setting up the Bluetooth, the Tisbury Police Department decided to step in and offer to help.

Anyone who needs help connecting their smart phone to their car's hands-free system is invited to bring them to the Senior Center on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. for Tisbury police to assist with setup. Tisbury police note that not all cars — especially older ones — have a hands-free function, but that officers would look at the phone, and the car, and determine if they can help.

The suggestion came from resident Mikael Jaycen on Facebook:

Tisbury police called it: "a great suggestion from a Facebook fan turned into a community event!"