MA Hands-Free Law: Distracted Driving Fines Begin

MILFORD, MA — If you find yourself looking at a text message, watching TikTok, or engaging in any other phone-related activity while driving in Massachusetts, know that you might get a hefty fine.

The state's new hands-free distracted driving law went into effect Wednesday. The law has been in place since Feb. 23, but police gave drivers a one-month grace period without fines.

On March 3, Massachusetts State Police said officers already stopped 600 drivers for breaking the new law.

Fines start at $100 for a first offense and rise from there. A second offense will cost $250 with a mandatory driver safety class; a third offense is a $500 fine, an insurance surcharge and another mandatory driving class. The new law also bans anyone under 18 from using a phone while driving, even if it's through a hands-free device.

Massachusetts has had a texting and driving ban in place since 2010. The new law differs because it explicitly bans holding or touching a phone while driving, except in very limited circumstances.

Other important parts of the law to keep in mind, per state police:

• Drivers can only use electronic devices and mobile phones in hands-free mode and are only permitted to touch devices to activate hands-free mode
• Drivers can't hold or support any electronic device/phone
• You can touch a phone to activate the hands-free mode, but only when the device is installed or properly mounted to the windshield, dashboard, or center console
• You can't touch a phone to text, email, use apps, take video, or use the internet
• Drivers can use GPS navigation when a device is installed or properly mounted
• Handheld use is allowed only if the vehicle is both stationary and not located in a public travel lane or a bicycle lane, but is not allowed at red lights or stop signs
• Voice to text and communication to electronic devices is legal only when a device is properly mounted; use of headphone (one ear) is permitted