Bill Text: MA S1977 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibit cellphone use by teens while driving
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-09-02 - Accompanied a study order, see S02616 [S1977 Detail]
Download: Massachusetts-2009-S1977-Introduced.html
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
PRESENTED BY:
Richard R. Tisei
_______________
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 passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act prohibiting cellphone use by teens while driving.
_______________
PETITION OF:
|
Name: |
District/Address: |
|
Richard R. Tisei |
Middlesex and Essex |
|
Bruce E. Tarr |
First Essex and Middlesex |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS
SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. S02109 OF 2007-2008.]
The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
_______________
An Act prohibiting cellphone use by teens 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 8 of chapter 90 of the General
Laws, as appearing in the 2002 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting
after the fifth paragraph the following paragraph:-
A person under eighteen years of age shall not use a mobile telephone while
driving. For the purposes of this section, a “mobile telephone” shall include,
but not be limited to, a mobile telephone utilizing cellular, analog,
satellite, wireless or digital telephone technology, and capable of sending or
receiving telephone communications. A violation of this section shall be
punishable by a suspension of his or her driver’s license for not more than one
year and fine of not more than $100. It shall be an affirmative defense for a
person under the age of eighteen to produce documentary or other evidence that
the telephone call that is the basis of the alleged violation was made for the
sole purpose of seeking emergency assistance. A violation of this paragraph
shall not be considered as a conviction of a moving violation of the motor
vehicle laws for the purpose of determining surcharges on motor vehicle
premiums pursuant to section 113 of chapter 175. An insurance company doing
business in the commonwealth shall not deny an individual the right to purchase
a motor vehicle liability policy based on a violation of this paragraph.
