What is Maine’s ‘No Touch’ Law and How Does It Affect You?

For decades, the biggest causes of fatal car crashes were speeding and drunk driving.

Then, about twenty years ago, that started to change.

We began seeing vehicles equipped with incredibly advanced (and complex) touchscreen controls.  Changing the radio station or turning on the air-conditioning was not as easy as just feeling for the right knob.  Now, you had to actually look at the control screen.

Additionally, we all started to carry cellphones and smartphones.  Over time, these phones started to get way more complex and started doing more.  Within a few years, they were allowing us to check social media, send emails, and even watch movies.

These factors have led to an increase in distracted driving crashes.

While there are no laws on the books preventing you from taking your attention off the road to focus on your connected dashboard, there are rules in many states that prevent you from touching your phone.

Maine's Hands-Free, or 'No Touch', Law

Since 2019, there have been laws on the books preventing you from touching your phone while you drive.

According to Maine.gov, the regulation is Title 29-A Section 2121 and it went into effect on September 19th, 2019.  The law prevents you from touching your phone while you are driving.

So, you can still make calls while you drive, but the phone needs to be Bluetooth connected to the vehicle or needs to be on speakerphone.  To dial the phone, you need to use voice commands.

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You are not allowed to text while driving, unless you are using a speech-to-text option in your connected dashboard.  This also applies to entering an address into your GPS.

Also, you are not supposed to touch your phone even when you are stopped at a red light.  Basically, you are never supposed to touch your phone unless your vehicle is in PARK.

What is the Penalty For Violating Maine's Hands-Free Law?

The first offense is a $50 fine.  Subsequent offenses can lead to a $250 fine.

Read the full text of the law HERE

Please be safe and follow the rules of the road.  We don't want to read about you in the news.