Massachusetts has a new anti-texting law that will ban the use of cell phones for auto navigation, while allowing personal navigation devices (PND). While I think PNDs are much easier and safer to use than phones, I have my doubts that this was a carefully considered part of the legislation. Hey, maybe TomTom did some lobbying on this one; after all, their US operations are based in Massachusetts!
Via @gatorguy2
About Rich Owings
Huh. Yeah. Something tells me that wasn’t really thought through. It’s my understanding (being a Massachusetts resident and former CT resident, another state with strict in-car mobile phone rules) that the law is meant to completely discourage actual tactile USE of the mobile phone while the vehicle’s in motion.
That is to say, banning active manipulation of a phone.
That the law succeeds in making use of mobile phone navigation — which is an inherently passive activity (you don’t hold the phone) — is kind of disappointing and confusing.
What about if the phone was mounted on the dash, windshield, or somewhere else?
I don’t think that matters, but I haven’t seen the exact text of the law.
Here is theURL for the full text regarding cell phone usage. I admire the creative use of the terms “capable of . . .” Internet Access.
http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/RMV/SafeDrivingLawSummary.aspx
And seemingly specific to the Cell phone navigation:
Section one specifically exempts “Navigation Devices” and Section 5 Specifucally includes Cell phones:
1. Ch 90/8M- Use of a Mobile Phone or Mobile Electronic Device by a Junior Operator
Civil Offense- No Surcharge (Mobile electronic device includes mobile telephone, text messaging device, paging device, PDA, laptop computer, electronic equipment capable of playing video games or video disks or can take/transmit digital photographs or can receive a television broadcast. Mobile electronic device does not include any equipment permanently or temporarily installed to provide navigation, emergency assistance or rear seat video entertainment. Reporting an emergency is the only exception. Drivers are encouraged to pull over and stop the vehicle to report the emergency.)
1st offense-$100, 60 day license suspension & attitudinal course
2nd offense-$250, 180 day suspension
3rd or subs offense-$500, 1 year suspension
5. Sending/Reading Text Messages
Civil Offense-No insurance surcharge (Operators cannot use any mobile telephone or handheld device capable of accessing the Internet to write, send, or read an electronic message including text messages, emails, and instant messages or to access the Internet while operating a vehicle. Law applies even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.)
1st offense-$100
2nd offense-$250
3rd or subs offense-$500