increasing fines for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving a motor vehicle.
Summary
SB 649 increases penalties for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving a motor vehicle. Under current law, the offense carries a $100 fine for a first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for subsequent offenses within 24 months. The bill raises those fines to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $750 for a third or subsequent offense within 24 months. It also creates higher penalties when the distracted-driving violation contributes to a crash, increasing the fine to $500, $750, or $1,000 depending on the offense level.
The bill also adds license suspension for repeat offenders. A third or subsequent offense within 24 months would carry a suspension of up to 30 days, or 60 days if the violation contributed to a crash. The act is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027, and it amends RSA 265:79-c, the state’s distracted-driving statute.
Impact
SB 649 would amend New Hampshire’s distracted-driving law by increasing civil fines and adding a new license-suspension consequence for repeat violations. It would also affect the distribution of fine and penalty-assessment revenue to the Highway Fund, General Fund, Victims’ Assistance Fund, and Judicial Branch Information Technology Fund, though the fiscal note says the revenue increase is indeterminable because future violation rates are unknown. The Department of Safety anticipates a one-time DMV systems update cost of about $48,000, and the bill could also create indeterminable costs for criminal, judicial, and correctional systems.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was generally treated as a traffic-safety measure aimed at deterring distracted driving, with no recorded committee transcript opposition or recorded votes in the materials provided. The sponsorship from members of both chambers and the Transportation Committee referral indicate broad policy interest in strengthening enforcement. The fiscal note’s assumptions focus on implementation rather than policy disagreement, suggesting the main discussion centered on administrative and revenue effects rather than ideological conflict.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to be the size of the fine increases, the addition of license suspension for repeat offenders, and the higher penalties when a crash is involved. Supporters would view these changes as a stronger deterrent to distracted driving and a response to crash risk, while opponents may be concerned about the burden on drivers, the fairness of escalating penalties, and the potential for increased judicial and correctional costs. Another practical issue is the DMV’s need to update systems and procedures, which the fiscal note estimates will cost $48,000.
Requiring the division of motor vehicles to extend a fine payment period for certain motor vehicle violations from 30 days to 90 days if the driver requests the extension.