The head of the Rhode Island State Police says they are pushing to require the use of hands-free devices when using a cellphone while driving.
Col. Steven O’Donnell tells WLNE-TV that he will ask the General Assembly to make it illegal for drivers to make or take a phone call, unless they are using a device such as a Bluetooth headset.
O’Donnell says the measure could save lives and will make the roads safer for everyone. The General Assembly will reconvene in January.
A similar bill passed in Rhode Island in 2001, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Lincoln Almond.
Connecticut has had such a ban since 2005.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Law Enforcement
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Howden US Tells Judge Brown & Brown Employees Fled Due to ‘Mistreatment’ 
’60 Minutes’ Homeowners Ask Court to Force DFS to Divulge Heritage Probe Info 
Is the AI Boom a Bubble Waiting to Pop? Here’s What History Says 
FBI Involved After Two Florida Injury Lawyers Go Missing From Fishing Trip 
