PROVIDENCE – House Majority Whip Peter F. Kilmartin, D-Pawtucket, has again filed legislation to ban the use of non-hands-free cellular phones by drivers on Rhode Island roads.
The bill was heard before the House Corporations Committee March 13. The bill, H-5804, would allow motorists to use a hands-free cellular device, such as a speaker phone or earphone attachment, but earphones and headsets that cover both ears would be prohibited. The bill allows hand-held phone use for emergency calls to 911, state or local police, or local fire departments.
Drivers caught violating the proposed law would face a $35 fine for a first offense, $70 for a second offense and $140 for the third and each subsequent offense.
Representative Kilmartin, a captain in the Pawtucket Police Department, first introduced the measure in the General Assembly in 1999, after a motorist talking on a cell phone nearly hit him while he was working on Division Street in Pawtucket.
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