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The Minnesota State Patrol announced on their Facebook page that there were over 19,000 violations of the state's Hands-Free Law over the past year.  To stress the importance of the year-old law, there will be extra enforcement on Minnesota roads through Saturday.

The Minnesota State Patrol stresses that checking texts, scrolling through social media or any distraction while driving can cost someone their life. Therefore, it is crucial that everyone puts the distractions away.

The best way to go hands-free is by turning off your phone and placing it in your purse/bag, trunk, center console or glove compartment. That way it’s out of sight, out of mind. If you must have your phone available, placing your cell on a mount is a great option. Remember, if placing it on the windshield, it must be mounted at the bottommost portion of the windshield. You are allowed to place your phone on the passenger seat, in the cup holder or other locations in the vehicle as long as you are not holding the phone. However, those locations are typically not as secure as a mount, center console or glove compartment.

 

Remember, the law allows drivers to use their cell phone to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions, but only by voice commands or single-touch activation without holding the phone.

GPS navigational devices and other systems that can only be used for navigation are exempt from the Hands-Free law, as are in-car screens and systems as these systems lock when the vehicle is moving.

You can follow the link below for complete details on the law.

 

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