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Written by Bryden and Sullivan Bryden and Sullivan
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Published: 06 December 2019 06 December 2019
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Hits: 1538 1538
Governor Baker signed has signed a bill "Requiring The Hands-Free Use Of Mobile Telephones While Driving” to go into effect on Sunday, February 23, 2020.
The law states that no operator of a motor vehicle (including motorcyles and bicycles) shall hold a mobile electronic device or use a mobile electronic device unless the device is being used in hands-free mode.”
“Hands-free mode” is defined as use without the user holding or touching the device except to initiate the hands-mode feature of the device.
- 1st Offense: $100 Fine
- 2nd Offense: $250 Fine plus requirement to complete an educational program on distracted driving prevention.
- 3rd Offense: $500 fine for third or subsequent offense, plus completion of educational program on distracted driving prevention.
Emergency Exception
The law does allow “emergency” use of a hand-held device to:
- Report a disabled vehicle or accident on a roadway
- Request medical attention or assistance
- Request police intervention, fire department or other emergency services for personal safety, or to otherwise ensure the safety of the public
To access a PDF copy of the Law, please click here. Download PDF brochure from Mass. Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA)
Insurance ... simple and done!
6 Steps for Storm Preparedness on Cape Cod
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1. Know your Risk.
Wind Storms, Hurricanes, Blizzards and Flooding are our most immediate concerns on Cape Cod. It's always best to have your own Emergency Preparedness Plan. You can protect your local emergency management organization to determine if there are already community-wide preparedness materials you can have, including evacuation routes, shelters and communication systems. |
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2. Assemble or Update your Emergency Kit.
Stock up on basic supplies you might need if you had to evacuate your home quickly. Items may include food, water, first aid supplies, medication, batteries, blankets and pet supplies. Put these items in a lightweight, waterproof container an dplace it somehere that can be easily accessed in an emegrency. |
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3. Create a Communication Plan.
Your family might not be together when disaster strikes. Have a discussion with your kids about emergency preparedness, including where you can meet and how everyone can get in contact if the unexpected happens. |
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4. Practice your Plan.
Mock scenarios with your family and even your entire community can help everyone understand how to prepare for, react to and recover from a disaster with confidence. That way, if an emergency were to strike, each member would know exactly which tasks they are responsible for to keep themselves and others safe. |
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5. Prepare your Home.
You can reduce the risk of injury to yourself and damage to your home by preparing your property for disaster. For example. in the case of a hurricane, it is recommended to board all windows and doors with hurricane shutters, and turn refrigerators and freezers to the coldest setting in order to preserve food, whereas a blizzard and freezing temps require salting the driveway and letting cold water drip from the faucet to prevent frozen pipes.
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6. Document and Insure your property.
Under certain circumstances, damage to your home may not be covered under a basic homeowner's insurance policy. Talk to Bryden and Sullivan insurance agents to determine if you need any additional coverage for the risks your area is particularly susceptible to, such as tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and more.
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