Starting last weekend, police officers in Massachusetts began to pull over drivers who were caught using their cellphones behind the wheel, for failure to comply with the state's new hands-free driving law.
Under the new law, repeat offenders of the law will be fined at least $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second, and $500 for the third offense. These fines will be accompanied by state-imposed surcharges and citations that will increase the driver's insurance premiums.
The new law prohibits drivers from handling an electronic device even when stopped at a light or stuck in traffic, except if the driver is enabling hands-free mode. Talking on the phone on speaker is considered to be compliant with the new law.
Police will be offering warnings to drivers about the new law until April 1, when they will begin to issue tickets for driving while using a cell phone.