WPBN: There is not much time left for Missouri drivers to get used to the state’s new hands-free regulation without incurring fines. The grace period, which started when the law was originally put into effect in August 2023, is scheduled to end on January 1, 2024. Drivers who are caught breaking the hands-free law after this date risk receiving penalties and paying hefty fines.
The Hands-Free Law’s specifics
It is definitely illegal for drivers to use mobile phones or any other handheld device while driving. This includes texting, browsing, making or receiving calls, and even simply holding the phone in their hand.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Sam Carpenter said the statute is severe in its limitations. It is illegal for drivers to touch their phones in any way, including touching, swiping, or simply holding the device for a brief period of time. Carpenter stressed, “A driver is not allowed to touch their device in any way, shape, or form.”
All drivers in the state are subject to the law, which also gives any law enforcement official the authority to issue citations to anyone they see breaking the law.
An officer has the right to issue a ticket right away if they see a driver using or carrying a phone while they are being pulled over for a traffic infraction.
There are severe consequences for breaking Missouri’s hands-free law:
- First Citation: $150 in fines.
- Second Citation: $250 in fines.
- Third Citation: $500 in fines.
According to Corporal Carpenter, the hefty fines have a vital function. They are intended to discourage drivers from acting in ways that put both their own and other road users’ lives in jeopardy.
The hands-free rule is a component of Missouri’s larger initiative to increase traffic safety and lower the incidence of distracted driving-related collisions. Since distracted driving has been a major contributor to traffic accidents, legislators expect that this strict regulation would promote safer driving practices throughout the state.
Missouri drivers are encouraged to adjust to the new rules and use hands-free technologies, such Bluetooth, for conversation while driving, as the grace period is about to expire. In addition to facing steep fines, noncompliance could endanger everyone’s safety while driving.
In order to avoid fines and help create safer roads, drivers should make sure they are completely informed of the law’s requirements as January 1 draws near and modify their driving behaviors as needed.
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“We have a lot of fatal crashes every year that are caused by distracted driving due to cell phone usage. So, we just want to make sure everybody’s aware of that. We’re trying to keep everybody safe. No text, or tweet, or whatever your favorite social media avenue is, is worth your life or somebody else’s,” Cpl. Sam Carpenter, Missouri State Highway Patrol stated.
He claims that in order to avoid getting a ticket, you need to have a Bluetooth connection. This can be accomplished by answering the phone using a button on the steering wheel or by having the vehicle read the text out loud.
It is recommended by Carpenter that you set your phone on the “do not disturb” mode if you do not have those within your vehicle. In accordance with the hands-free law, all electronic devices, including GPS navigation systems, are prohibited.
