Text Alert: Beverly Police Make 90 Stops In Hands-Free Campaign

BEVERLY, MA — A year after state's distracted driving law took effect Beverly police are providing a warning about the potential consequences of texting while driving.

The department is picking up the enforcement of the law of late with more than 90 stops over the past seven days in the city as part of the campaign with the assistance of a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research.

State law prohibits drivers from using electronic devices, including cell phones, unless the device is in hands-free mode.

The fine for a first offense is $100, second offense is $250, with a third and subsequent offense $500 plus an insurance surcharge and mandatory completion of a distracted driving educational program.

More about the law can be found here.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)