Bill Banning Handheld Phones While Driving Cruises Through House

BEACON HILL, MA — A bill banning drivers from using cellphones behind the wheel passed, 155-2, in the House Wednesday. The vote marks a significant step toward making Massachusetts a "hands-free" state.

The bill would also require traffic tickets include a space for officers to note the race of the person being cited or warned as a potential safeguard against what skeptics of the legislation fear could be racial profiling. The bill represents a years-long effort to keep drivers from using their cellphones with their hands while driving. Texting and emailing while driving has been illegal since 2010.

The bill states drivers could only use phones with their hands "to activate, deactivate, or initiate a feature or function." Phones could not be used for social media or video calls when behind the wheel. The exception for using your hands to make a call would be in an emergency, such as calling 911. Drivers could still use a phone's GPS as long as it didn't impede driving.

First offenders would be fined $100, second offenders $250 and subsequent offenders $500.

Reps. Peter Durant and David DeCoste voted against the bill.

The Senate has its own distracted driving bill it plans on taking up June 6. Gov. Charlie Baker has come around on endorsing such legislation.