A hands-free cell phone law with primary enforcement goes into effect in Ohio in early April. Gov. Mike DeWine, a firm supporter of limiting cell phone use by all drivers, signed the measure into law Jan. 3. The legislation originated in the House, but was incorporated into a much-larger criminal justice act that emerged from the Senate. House sponsors were state Reps. Cindy Abrams and Brian Lampton. Fines from $150 (first offense) to $500, plus points vs. the driver's license. Serial offenders face the possibility of license loss. A six-month warning period begins April 3. Ohio's new … [Read more...]

The 2020 legislative season has more or less come to a halt, along with much of modern life in the United States, but not before a trio of states adopted new handheld cell phone laws. Governors in Idaho, Indiana and Virginia signed off on hands-free laws that worked their way through legislatures as the coronavirus began its assault on the country. In South Dakota, the weak texting law is being replaced with a new law that bars many but not all uses of handheld electronic devices while driving. All of these new electronic distracted driving laws come with primary (full) … [Read more...]

Maine's governor has signed into law state Sen. Bill Diamond's handheld cell phone measure. The new distracted driving rules take effect in mid-September. Diamond, left, succeeded with a hands-free bill during the previous legislative session, but the plan was vetoed by then Gov. Paul LePage, who rejected its attempt at what he called "social engineering." Diamond and his backers found new Gov. Janet Mills more receptive, and she signed the bill into law June 27. (LePage is a Republican and Mills is a Democrat.) The law prevents drivers from holding and using mobile telephones and … [Read more...]