‘Our primary concern is safety on the roads’
Published 2:01 pm Saturday, July 27, 2019
Minnesota’s new hands-free cellphone law takes effect on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Under the law, Minnesota drivers are not allowed to hold a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle except to make emergency calls.
“This is entirely driven by the want to increase public safety,” said Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik. “The data in other states has shown that, by instituting laws like this, they have lowered traffic fatalities substantially and that is the goal of this law.”
Drivers caught violating the law are subject to a $50 fine on the first offense; however, that fine increases to $275 for subsequent offenses.
Under the law, cell phone use is still allowed via Bluetooth, earphones, dashboard mounts, adapters and any other hands-free option.
“We will be looking for anyone with a phone in hand,” said Austin Police Chief David McKichan.
“It will be the same as any other traffic law violation,” Sandvik said. “If deputies see people holding their phones, they can stop them for it. Our primary concern is safety on the roads and this adds to the list as to why they can stop them.”
While law enforcement are exempt from the law for the purposes of doing their job, the Austin Police Department has been upgrading their squad cars to allow for compliance with the law.
“We have upgraded our agency to smart phones from our prior flip phones,” McKichan said. “We have installed vent mounts and will integrate the phones through the squads Bluetooth functionality. Administrative and detective vehicles also got mounts for phones. We are doing this, as it is a safer way for us to operate as well.”
Sandvik said that little work has to be done to upgrade MCSO vehicles.
“We only have two or three squad cars in our fleet that do not have sync,” he said. “Most of our squad cars are already compliant and our deputies’ phones are synched to the squad cars. Those that aren’t will be upgraded. It’s important for us to set the example.”
While McKichan and Sandvik hope the law will encourage motorists to practice safer driving, it is unknown if it will affect the number of distracted driving citations issued by law enforcement.
“I would expect it would add some because now having the phone in your hand is a violation, whereas before someone could claim they were looking at their map when they were texting,” Sandvik said. “I would expect the number (of citations) to go up somewhat.”
“It should make it easier for us to enforce (distracted driving laws) as the prior language in the law made it difficult for us to determine what the person had the phone in their hand for,” McKichan said. “Now the mere fact that it is in one’s hand is a violation of the law and we no longer need to determine the ‘why’ it is in the hand in order to stop a driver. However, we and the State are trying very hard to educate everyone prior to Aug. 1 in order to gain compliance and avoid ticketing.”
For Sandvik, obeying the law is simple and straightforward.
“Utilize hands-free devices, whether it be Bluetooth or an ear bud, and don’t hold the phone in your hand,” he said. “If you have to use your hands, wait until you’re parked in a parking spot and utilize your phone.”
“When the topic of the driver having a phone comes up, the vast majority of people I have spoken to all agree it is a good idea to get them out a driver’s hand,” McKichan said. “While it is safest not to talk on them at all when you are driving, we are now so connected to them in our daily lives and professions that we aren’t quite ready to fully ban their use. This is a big step forward that we all hope will reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.”
Click here for 5 ways to follow Minnesota’s new hands-free cellphone driving law