PROVIDENCE – A bill criminalizing the usage of any “non-hands-free personal wireless communication device” was signed into law by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo Monday, one of the bills to make it past the Governors desk despite the budget dispute embroiling the General Assembly.
The law will go into effect June 1, 2018 and prohibits usage of any cellular devices while operating a motor vehicle except in times of emergency or for public safety personnel.
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“Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, claiming 3,477 lives in 2015 alone,” said Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D- South Kingstown, New Shoreham), one of the bill’s co-sponsors. “It’s not just texting; talking on the phone while having one hand off of the wheel is equally distracting.”
Violators will be faced with a fine not exceeding $100 and first-time offenders can have the fine waived if they obtain a hands-free accessory to use in their vehicle after their violation. Rhode Island now stands with three other New England States – Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire – in having legislation barring the use of handheld communication devices in vehicles; municipalities in Massachusetts legislate the issue individually.
“With each change in technology, it becomes our duty as lawmakers and protectors of our constituency to ensure that we make the appropriate adjustments to our statutes,” Sosnowski said. “There are already so many dangers and distractions on the road – the least we can do is work to minimize those potential threats.”
Kyle Borowski is a PBN contributing writer.
