This bill amends the existing law regarding the use of mobile electronic devices while driving, specifically designating it as a secondary offense. The new legal language inserted into RSA 265:79-c states that enforcement of this section by law enforcement agencies shall only occur as a secondary offense when a driver has been stopped for a suspected violation of another provision of Title XXI or another offense. This change effectively limits the circumstances under which a driver can be penalized for using a mobile device while driving, requiring an initial stop for a different violation.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local governments, particularly concerning expenditures related to the judicial and correctional systems. The estimated revenue impact is projected to be zero, indicating that the bill does not create new revenue streams. The potential costs associated with changes in prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole due to this modification in law are acknowledged but not quantified in the fiscal note.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:79-c