Rochester Police, fed up with distracted drives, say 'OK, fine!'

ROCHESTER - The law against texting and using hand-held electronic devices while driving in New Hampshire has been in effect for almost a year, but Rochester Police reported today that just two officers were able to make a total of 19 traffic stops in a short amount of time during the day on Friday.

Of those 19 stops for distracted driving using cell phones or other electronic devices, 14 drivers were issued summonses meaning a hefty fine.

Offenses ranged from talking on the cell phone to actually texting while driving.

The way the law in New Hampshire reads it is illegal to use any handheld electronic device while operating a motor vehicle or while in the travel portion of the roadway even when they are stopped at a traffic light or intersection.

That includes no use of hand-held electronic devices capable of providing voice or data communication while driving or temporarily halted in traffic for a stop sign or traffic signal or other momentary delay

The law includes cell phones, GPS, tablets, iPods, iPads or other devices that require data entry

Meanwhile, emergency calls to 911 or other public safety agencies will be allowed and Bluetooth or other hands-free electronic devices are also OK.

One hand noncellular 2-way radio use is also allowed

Teen drivers under the age of 18, however, are not allowed to use any electronic devices (hand-held or not) except to report an emergency. Anyone violating this will be subject to penalties and license suspension or revocation.

The law became effective last July.

Penalties for Violations

1st Offense $100 fine

2nd Offense $250 fine

3rd Offense within 2 years $500 fine

Penalty assessments will be added to the fines

By the numbers

During the past 4 years, 116 fatal crashes in New Hampshire were caused by distraction

The increasing use of electronic devices is fast becoming the primary distraction

While texting, a driver is 23 times more likely to crash

Sending or receiving a text distracts the driver for almost 5 seconds

At 50 miles per hour, we travel longer than the length of a football field during those 5 seconds

Even dialing a phone number increases the risk of crashing by 3 times