MA to Enforce Ban on Hand-Held Mobile Phone Use
Posted by Taylor Patrick on Fri, Jan 06, 2012 @ 12:07 PM
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ANYONE WHO DRIVES A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE!
We have just learned that the U.S. Department of Transportation rule regarding the use of hand-held mobile phones in commercial motor vehicles which took effect yesterday will be enforced in Massachusetts. We learned from the State Police Truck Team that enforcement will be by the Truck Team and any state or local police officer certified for commercial motor vehicle enforcement by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Massachusetts Regulation 540 CMR 14.00 establishes:
"rules and regulations governing the use and operation of certain motor vehicles, trailers and commercial motor vehicles, and motor carrier safety and the transportation of hazardous materials by motor carriers in both intrastate and interstate commerce upon the public ways of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Penalty: Driver is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for 60 days with the second offense in 3 years. (120 days for each subsequent offense within 3 years) Only applies if violation occurred while driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle.