STATEWIDE (WGME) — Maine’s new hands-free driving law is in effect, which means drivers can no longer hold a cell phone or any other device while behind the wheel.
Police say there will not be a grace period for drivers.
The law means drivers cannot be touching a phone or have any other electronic devices in your hand while behind the wheel.
Devices needs to be put away or placed in a holder on your dashboard. Police say a cup holder is not an acceptable spot either.
Police say distracted driving crashes have increased in Maine this past year. They say if you must take a phone call, you need to pull over and park to do so.
“We’re trying to save lives with this law. Our hope is that people will put their phones down, that they’ll focus on the roads and reduce both the minor crashes and the major crashes,” Westbrook Police Captain Steven Goldberg said.
Bluetooth is okay to use behind the wheel. If it’s something you don’t have, most technology stores know how to equip your phone or vehicle.
Police say it will be a $50 fine for the first offense and multiple offenses can cost as much as $250.
