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[Bristol, NH](https://hpminsurance.com/insurance-bristol-nh) - [Goffstown, NH](https://hpminsurance.com/insurance-goffstown-nh) - [Laconia, NH](https://hpminsurance.com/insurance-laconia-nh) - [Littleton, NH](https://hpminsurance.com/insurance-in-littleton-nh) - [Client Portal](https://hpminsurance.com/client-portal) ## [Know Your New England Driving Laws: NH Hands-Free Law & More](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/entryid/9432/know-your-new-england-driving-laws-nh-hands-free-law-more) Written by [April Weismann](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/author/april-weismann) on 06/29/2015 12:01 PM in [Safety Tips](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/safety-tips). ![](https://www.hpminsurance.com/Portals/fulkerson/I-Stock%20photos/Fotolia/pulled%20over.jpg?width=137&height=91&name=pulled%20over.jpg)Summer is here and many of us will be hitting the open road to camp in our National Forests, build sand castles on the beach or head out to the many festivals that occur throughout New England. Most of us in New Hampshire are aware of the impending law that takes effect on July 1st, 2015 which will ban a driver's use of a handheld electronic device, but what about the laws in other states? What happens when you, a NH resident, go into Maine to have some fresh lobster but don't think about whether you are wearing a seat belt or not? Does Maine have a seat belt law? What if you are up in the White Mountains on your Harley and decide to head over to the Green Mountain State, but you don't have a helmet? Could you be pulled over? Different states have different laws and as our mothers used to tell us, ignorance is not an excuse. You are responsible for adhering to each state's laws when you cross state lines. To avoid unnecessary fines and stress, HPM Insurance has published the following chart as a guide to what is on the books in each state |   | **Hand-Held Ban** | **All Cell Use Ban** | **Text Ban** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | NH | Yes (as of 7/1/15) | Less than 18 years old | Yes | | ME | No | Learner or Intermediate License | Yes | | VT | Yes | Less than 18 years old | Yes | | MA | No | Less than 18 years old | Yes | | NY | Yes | No | Yes | | CT | Yes | Less than 18 years old | Yes | | RI | No | Less than 18 years old | Yes | |   | **Helmet Requirement** | **Seat Belt Requirement** | | --- | --- | --- | | NH | Less than 18 years old | No | | ME | Licensed less than 1 year | Yes | | VT | Yes | Yes | | MA | Yes | Yes | | NY | Yes | Yes | | CT | Less than 18 years old | Yes | | RI | Less than 21 years old or licensed less than 1 year | Yes | ## **NH Hands-Free Law** Though word is getting out about the July 1st law that takes effect in NH, many people are not aware as to the extent of this law. New Hampshire aims to reduce the number of distracted driving crashes by outlawing the use of handheld electronic devices while driving behind the wheel. The law, which actually passed in 2014, goes into effect on July 1st. After this time, drivers will be subject to fines, penalties and potential suspension of their license for failing to put their cell phones down. ## **The Specifics of the NH Hands-Free Law** Drivers in NH should be aware that they can no longer use any electronic device that requires data entry. This includes smartphones (for talk, text or internet access), tablets, iPods or other music playing devices, and GPS devices. This restriction applies even when stopped at a stop sign, red light, traffic jam or other temporary pause. Drivers who wish to use these devices must pull to the side of the road and remain at a full stop until they are finished with their device. The only exceptions that will be made are for emergency calls to 9-1-1. ## **Bluetooth Accommodations** Devices and cars equipped withBluetooth or other hands-free systems will still be allowed. New Hampshire police recommend installing aftermarket Bluetooth receivers to encourage hands-free usage. Non-cellular 2-way radio that is used with one hand will also still be allowed. Teen drivers will face even more stringent restrictions with absolutely no electronic usage while driving, no matter if the device is hands-free or not. Anyone under 18 caught using a device for non-emergency calls will be subject to additional penalties including the possible revocation of their license. ## **Enforcement & Penalties for NH Hands-Free Law** Laws similar to New Hampshire’s new hands-free law have typically been hard to enforce because they are not as far reaching. New Hampshire legislators and safety officials hope that by banning all usage of handheld devices while driving, they will be more able to enforce the rule, driving home the message that distracted driving is not safe and will not be tolerated. The first offense will incur a $100 fine, the second goes up to $250, and a third offense within 2 years carries a $500 fine. Penalties may be added on top of these fine amounts and will appear on driving history reports and thus impacting insurance rates. ## **We Value You** New Hampshire and other states passing similar hands-free laws hope that with new laws and strict enforcement, drivers will take the message to heart: distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, and should be treated just as seriously by drivers. Though it may seem harmless to check an email or send a quick text, no message is worth risking your life, and the life of others. Stay safe! *This material is for informational purposes only. All statements herein are subject to the applicable laws within each state and are subject to change.* ### Possibly related posts: - [Chimney Fire Prevention Tips for NH Homeowners](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/chimney-fire-prevention-tips-for-nh-homeowners) - [How an AirTag Saved My Vacation - Twice!](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/how-an-airtag-saved-my-vacation-twice) - [Why Did Vehicle Fatalities Increase by 24% in 2020?](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/why-did-vehicle-fatalities-increase-by-24-in-2020) - [Advice on Passwords for Safer Online Shopping](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/advice-on-passwords-for-safer-online-shopping) ## Request Free Insurance Quotes! ### [Rss Feed](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/rss.xml) - [Personal Insurance (61)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/personal-insurance) - [Homeowners Insurance (44)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/homeowners-insurance) - [Business Insurance (35)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/business-insurance) - [Car Insurance (26)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/car-insurance) - [Agency News (24)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/agency-news) - [Commercial Insurance (21)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/commercial-insurance) - [Safety Tips (14)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/safety-tips) - [Health Insurance (9)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/health-insurance) - [Claim Information (8)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/claim-information) - [Auto Insurance (7)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/auto-insurance) - [Insurance Tips (6)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/insurance-tips) - [Boat Insurance (5)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/boat-insurance) - [Commercial Auto Insurance (5)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/commercial-auto-insurance) - [Workers Compensation Insurance (5)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/workers-compensation-insurance) - [Jewelry Insurance (4)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/jewelry-insurance) - [Landlord Insurance (4)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/landlord-insurance) - [Small Business Insurance (4)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/small-business-insurance) - [save money (4)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/save-money) - [Cyber Insurance (3)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/cyber-insurance) - [Flood Insurance (3)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/flood-insurance) - [NH Homeowners Insurance (3)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/nh-homeowners-insurance) - [renters Insurance (3)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/renters-insurance) - [Life Insurance (2)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/life-insurance) - [NH Auto Insurance (2)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/nh-auto-insurance) - [Property Insurance (2)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/property-insurance) - [Agency Happenings (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/agency-happenings) - [Business Insurance New Hampshire (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/business-insurance-new-hampshire) - [Condo Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/condo-insurance) - [Employee Benefits (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/employee-benefits) - [High Value Home Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/high-value-home-insurance) - [High-Value Homeowners Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/high-value-homeowners-insurance) - [Home Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/home-insurance) - [Motorcycle Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/motorcycle-insurance) - [New Hampshire Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/new-hampshire-insurance) - [RV Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/rv-insurance) - [Travel Insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/travel-insurance) - [commercial property insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/commercial-property-insurance) - [homeoweners insurance (1)](https://hpminsurance.com/blog/topic/homeoweners-insurance) ## Subscribe to Our Blog - ### Don't Wait. 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Visit http://www.hpminsurance.com to get all the information you need. 101 Ponemah Road Amherst, NH 03031 **Hours:** 8:00am - 5:00pm, M - F Phone: 603-673-1201 [![Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance New Hampshire](https://res.cloudinary.com/expertise-com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/w_auto/remote_media/awards/nh_manchester_car-insurance_2021_transparent.svg)](https://www.expertise.com/NH/manchester/car-insurance) © 2026 HPM Insurance | [Privacy Statement](https://hpminsurance-3427324-hs-sites-com.sandbox.hs-sites.com/about-us/privacy-statement) | This material is for informational purposes only. All statements herein are subject to the provisions, exclusions and conditions of the applicable policy, state and federal laws. For an actual description of coverage, terms and conditions, please refer to the applicable insurance policy or check with your insurance professional. The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication. Website Built & Powered by [Jump Suit Group](https://www.jumpsuitgroup.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "April Weismann", "url" : "https://hpminsurance.com/blog/author/april-weismann" }, "datePublished" : "2015-06-29T16:01:00.000Z", "headline" : "Know Your New England Driving Laws: NH Hands-Free Law & More", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://hpminsurance.com/blog/entryid/9432/know-your-new-england-driving-laws-nh-hands-free-law-more", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://hpminsurance.com/hubfs/HPMinsurance/Images/HPM_Logo_Large.jpg" }, "name" : "HPM Insurance" } } ```