News

Not all Maine drivers changing habits after hands-free law

Not all Maine drivers changing habits after hands-free law

Photo: clipart.com


BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) A sting operation by a Maine police department found that lots of drivers haven’t changed their habits in the wake of the state’s new hands-free cell phone law for drivers.

The law that went into effect in September bans drivers from holding phones while driving. The Portland Press Herald reports police agencies have been handing out tickets faster than analysts anticipated since then.

Biddeford’s police department set up a sting to get an idea of how the laws have changed driving habits. Officers in the city have written 83 tickets and observed twice that number of additional violations during a period of about two weeks since the push started.

Maine police wrote 232 tickets in the first month of the law. Analysts predicted that number would be 137.

Latest Headlines

42 minutes ago in Local

What to Know About Maine U.S. Senate Race

Fresh

Democrats are hoping to unseat Republican Susan Collins.

10 hours ago in Local

Drought Gets Worse Across Maine Impacting Drinking Water

Drought conditions across the state have worsened over the past week.

10 hours ago in Local

Maine Housing Market Becoming More Buyer Friendly

Sellers and buyers are on more equal footing for negotiating their home purchase.

11 hours ago in Local

3 face drug charges after raids in New Gloucester, Lewiston

A month-long investigation into drug trafficking in New Gloucester and Lewiston led to three arrests on Wednesday.

11 hours ago in Local

Man accused in high-speed pursuit in Kennebec County arrested after crashing into construction zone

Police say a man led them on a high-speed chase in Clinton before crashing in a construction zone on Tuesday.