HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 348        FILED ON: 1/12/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1892

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

William M. Straus

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act requiring the hands-free use of mobile telephones while driving.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

William M. Straus

10th Bristol

1/12/2017

Mayor Martin J. Walsh

1 City Hall Square Boston, MA

1/12/2017

Daniel J. Hunt

13th Suffolk

2/1/2017

John C. Velis

4th Hampden

 

Lori A. Ehrlich

8th Essex

 

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

 

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 348        FILED ON: 1/12/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1892

By Mr. Straus of Mattapoisett, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1892) of William M. Straus and others relative to requiring hands-free use of mobile telephones while operating a motor vehicle.  Transportation.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3315 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act requiring the hands-free use of mobile telephones while driving.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 13 of chapter 90, as appearing the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the word ‘mobile telephone’ in line 6, and inserting in place thereof the following word: - ‘hands-free mobile telephone’

SECTION 2. Section 13B of chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting the following subsection:-

(a  ½ ) No operator of a motor vehicle shall use a mobile telephone or mobile electronic device for voice communications, unless said telephone or device is being used as a hands-free mobile telephone or to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function;. it shall be an affirmative defense for an operator under this section to produce evidence that the use of a mobile telephone that is the basis of the alleged violation was in the case of an emergency.  For the purpose of this paragraph, an emergency shall mean that the operator needed to communicate with another to report any of the following: (1) that the vehicle or vessel was disabled; (2) that medical attention or assistance was required on the vehicle or vessel; (3) that police intervention, fire department or other emergency services was necessary for the personal safety of a passenger or to otherwise ensure the safety of the public; or (4) that a disabled vehicle or an accident was present on a roadway.