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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, June 14, 2019 Page 3 Sen. Lewis applauds Senate passage of legislation to prevent distracted driving B OSTON – On Thursday the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed An Act preventing distracted driving, which would prohibit the use of handheld mobile devices while driving. “The ubiquity of smart phones has led to a serious epidemic of distracted driving across our communities,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “Accidents, injuries and deaths caused by distracted driving are completely preventable, and this bill will improve road safety and protect the lives of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving accounted for 3,450 deaths in 2016. In the prior year, an estimated 400,000 people suffered from injuries because of distraction-affected crashes. Passage of this bill puts Massachusetts in line with the northeastern states of Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York. Forty-six states currently ban texting while driving for all drivers, and 14 states ban the use of handheld devices for all drivers. In 2010 the legislature banned Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ makes exceptions for phone calls in emergency purposes, such as situations where the safety of the driver, passenger or a pedestrian is at risk or first responder intervention is necessary. Under the bill, an initial vioState Sen. Jason Lewis texting while driving but did not ban the use of handheld devices for talking or other purposes. The 2010 law banned handheld use for 16 and 17 year olds. The law has been difficult to enforce, and hands-free technology has improved significantly since the passage of the 2010 law. The Senate has acted in previous sessions to address these concerns. This bill, which builds upon the 2010 law, would ban drivers from holding and using a cell phone while driving; however, drivers could make a single tap or swipe to activate or accept a hands-free call or to use a navigation device. The bill also lation results in a $100 fine and the second offense has a $250 fine, while subsequent offenses carry a $500 fine. In addition to fines, a driver who commits a second or subsequent offense is required to complete an educational program on driving behavior selected by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The bill also considers concerns that enforcement of the hands-free ban could lead to disparate impacts, such as racial profiling, in certain communities. It requires law enforcement to document stops and submit aggregate data, including race and ethnicity, to the Department of Public Safety for the production of annual reports to the Legislature and the public. The Senate and the House will now work to reconcile bills relative to distracted driving prevention. On June 10 the House referred to bill (S.2245) to its Committee on Ways and Means. NE Metro Tech High School carpentry class surprises mayor M ayor Gary Christenson began this week with a surprise visit by Northeast Metro Tech High School students Gloria Lanzi, Danny Lancelotte, David Woodworth, Matthew Royal, Andrew Keyes, Shawn Rosario and David Defilippo. Unbeknownst to Mayor Christenson, over the last few months the sophomore Carpentry students led by instructor Rob Jepson worked hard to design and construct a brand-new podium. NE Metro Tech Superintendent David DiBarri was also in attendance for a presentation of the podium. The beautiful red oak podium features an intricately carved City of Malden seal and is easily disassembled for effortless transport to and from City of Malden events. The base and top are constructed with a combination of plywood veneer and oak hardwood with a mahogany base cap border, and the whole podium was coated with three coats of varnish. “This is the best surprise I’ve had in a long time,” said Christenson. “I could not be more impressed with the students’ work. I am truly grateful that the City will have this beautiful podium for many years to come.” The NE Metro Tech Carpentry Program is designed to instruct students in all types of housing construction and remodeling, including foundation, framing and exterior and interior finish work. Students participate in workshops and learn to use a * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! AC SPECIAL Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 IL. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles) Only $59.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! '09 FORD F-150 XLT 4X4 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA 30 Day Complete Warranty, 140K Miles Crew Cab, Most Power Options, Runs & Drives Great, Just Serviced, Clean Title, Runs & Drives Great, Just Serviced, Clean Title, 30 Day Complete Warranty, 140K Miles variety of hand and contractor power tools along with industrial woodworking machinery. 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