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H3612 • 2025

An Act relative to increasing the fines and penalties for texting and driving

An Act relative to increasing the fines and penalties for texting and driving

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Bruce J. Ayers
Last action
2026-02-25
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5143
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to increasing the fines and penalties for texting and driving

An Act relative to increasing the fines and penalties for texting and driving By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to increasing the fines and penalties for texting and driving By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 3612) of Bruce J.
  • Ayers for legislation to increase the fines and penalties for texting while driving.
  • Transportation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-25 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5143

  2. 2025-10-24 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Transportation

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to increasing the fines and penalties for texting and driving
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3612) of Bruce J. Ayers for legislation to increase the fines and penalties for texting while driving. Transportation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.3612

SECTION 1. Section 13B of chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence of subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- For the purposes of this section, an operator shall not be considered to be operating a motor vehicle if the vehicle is stationary and not located in a part of the public way intended for travel but shall be considered to be operating a motor vehicle if the vehicle is stopped in traffic.

SECTION 2. Section 13B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence of subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(b)

A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $250 and a permit or license suspension of 90 days for a first offense, by a fine of $500 for a second offense and by a fine of $750 for a third or subsequent offense.

SECTION 3. Section 24 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “both”, in line 737, the following words:- ; provided, however, that any conviction made pursuant to the provisions of this section resulting from a violation of section 8M, 12A or 13B shall operate as a conviction for purposes of a registry of motor vehicles action and for purposes of the safe driver insurance plan established pursuant to section 113B of chapter 175.

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