Safe Driving Law

From the RMV Website
don't text and drive

The Safe Driving Law became effective in Massachusetts on September 30, 2010.   The law created a series of new violations, which the RMV Division, MassDOT IT staff and the Merit Rating Board are working to program and implement.

These new violations include:

Ch 90/8M - Use of a Mobile Phone or Electronic Device by a Junior Operator - Civil Offense, No Surcharge (A "mobile electronic device" is any hand-held or other portable electronic equipment capable of providing data communication between two or more persons, including, without limitation, a mobile telephone, a text messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, electronic equipment that is capable of playing a video game or digital video disk, equipment on which digital photographs are taken or transmitted or any combination thereof, or equipment that is capable of visually receiving a television broadcast; provided, however, that mobile electronic device shall not include any audio equipment or any equipment installed, or affixed, either temporarily or permanently, in a motor vehicle for the purpose of providing navigation or emergency assistance to the operator of such motor vehicle or video entertainment to the passengers in the rear seats of such motor vehicle).  Reporting and 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

 

Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Motor Vehicle Operator -  Civil Offense, No Insurance Surcharge

  • $500 assessment each offense

 

Use of a Mobile Phone by a Public Transport Non-Motor Vehicle Operator - Civil Offense, No Insurance Surcharge (MBTA Trolley)

  • $500 assessment each offense

 

Improper Use of a Mobile Phone by Operators 18 and Over Civil Offense, No Insurance Surcharge (One hand must be on the steering wheel at all times and no use of device can interfere with driving).

  • 1st offense - $35 assessment
  • 2nd offense in 12 months - $75 assessment
  • 3rd offense in 12 months - $150 assessment

 

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

 

Negligent Operation & Injury from Mobile Phone Use - Criminal Offense, Insurance Surcharge

 

JOL Suspensions

  • 1st offense – 180 day suspension
  • 2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years – 1 year suspension
  • $500 reinstatement fee

 

Over 18 Suspensions

  • 1st offense – 60 day suspension
  • 2nd or subsequent offense within 3 years – 1 year suspension
  • $500 reinstatement fee

 

Additional Suspensions – the law repeals the current suspension for 5-surchargeable incidents in a 3-year period and replaces it with a new suspension for a 3 surchargeable incidents in 2 years.  Violations with an incident date on or after 9/30/2010 can be factored into the new suspension calculation.  However, older violations will still be considered a basis for operators that accrue 7 surchargeable incidents, operators will have 90 days from the suspension notice to complete a National Safety Council course to avoid going into suspension.

EXAMPLE – An operator receives a citation on October 1, 2010 and is cited for 3 offenses on the ticket: speeding, failure to yield, and a marked lane violation.   Under the new law, this driver will receive a notice that they must complete the NSC course in 90 days or have his/her license suspended until completion of the class.

 

Elder Driving Provisions – License applicants, either for initial licensure in Massachusetts or license renewal, age 75 and older must conduct the transaction in a RMV office.  Use of the Internet for license renewals will no longer be allowed for these applicants.  All applicants, regardless of age, that obtain or renew a license in a branch office are required to undergo the RMV vision test that is given to all drivers or provide a vision screening certificate from an appropriate health care provider to complete the transaction.

 

Medical Fitness Reporting – Health care providers and law enforcement may report operators they believe are not physically or mentally capable of safely operating a vehicle due to cognitive of functional impairment.

  • May request RMV to seek medical evaluation of operator
  • Requests can’t be based on operator age or solely on diagnosis of condition or impairment – it must be based on the effect either has on the ability to drive safely
  • Good faith belief of impairment based on
    • Personal observation
    • Physical evidence
    • Law enforcement investigation
  • RMV must review report within 30 days of receipt

 

The RMV must promulgate regulations based on recommendations from the RMV Medical Advisory Board designating cognitive or functional impairments likely to affect an individual’s ability to operate.