YARMOUTH – Yarmouth Police report that members of their Proactive Anti-Crime Unit will be out Monday patrolling the streets of Yarmouth looking for unsafe driving such as texting while driving.
Take a moment to review the Massachusetts law regarding this type of dangerous driving and make sure to buckle up, watch your speed, and never text and drive.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 155 bans texting by drivers, including reading, writing, or sending messages. This includes text messages, e-mails, and messages sent through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Drivers cannot text while driving or sitting at red lights, intersections, or on other public ways. Texting while driving is a primary offense, meaning police can pull drivers over when they suspect the behavior.
The law also covers more than cell phones. It bans communicating through any device while you are driving, including tablet computers and laptops.
Drivers are permitted to talk on cell phones in Massachusetts. But operators under 18 years old are banned from all cell phone use, a measure passed as part of the Safe Driving Law.
Across the country, 41 states ban texting while driving. Fines in Massachusetts drivers are $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $500 for third and all subsequent acts. When a driver causes serious injury or death as a result of texting, they can also face criminal charges.
Media release furnished by Yarmouth Police
About time to stop this dangerous behavior. Look at all the one car crashes that fill this page weekly. The fines should be much higher $10,000 for a first offense. We all share the roads.