This bill proposes significant changes to the penalties associated with the use of hand-held mobile electronic devices while driving. It amends RSA 265:79-c, III to increase fines for violations, establishing a tiered penalty system based on the number of offenses within a 24-month period. For a first offense, the fine will increase from $100 to $250, or $500 if the violation contributes to a crash. A second offense will incur a fine of $500, or $750 if crash-related, while a third or subsequent offense will result in a fine of $750 and a potential license suspension of up to 30 days, or $1,000 and a 60-day suspension if the violation contributes to a crash.

Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language that specifies these penalties and removes the previous fine structure. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2027. The bill is expected to have an indeterminable fiscal impact on state revenue, as it is unclear how the increased penalties will affect driver behavior and the frequency of violations. The Department of Safety anticipates a one-time cost of $48,000 to update its systems to accommodate the new fine structure and license suspension protocols.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:79-c
SB649 text: 265:79-c