Senate approves hand-held cellular phone ban

NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONCORD, (AP):

Hand-held cellular phone use would be banned while driving in New Hampshire in mid-2015 under a bill passed by the Senate.

The Senate passed the bill on a voice vote yesterday back to the House to consider an amendment to require the State to educate the public about the ban. The bill would continue to allow adults to talk on cellular phones while driving if they use hands-free phones, devices built into the vehicle, and two-way radios.

The House-passed bill also would ban all cellular-phone use by minors behind the wheel. The ban would apply while drivers are stopped temporarily, such as at a red light, but not if they have pulled over and stopped. The bill doesn't apply in an emergency.