New Hampshire Cell Phone Laws: Hands-Free Rules, Fines, GPS, and Teen Restrictions

New Hampshire cell phone laws prohibit drivers from holding or manually using a phone or other portable electronic device while driving. The restriction covers calls, text messages, GPS entry, video use, and other handheld interaction. Adult drivers may use hands-free technology, while drivers under 18 face a broader wireless-device ban.

Law	New Hampshire RSA §265:105-a
What is prohibited	Handheld use of a portable electronic device while driving
First offense	$100
Second offense	$250
Third or subsequent offense	$500
Adult hands-free use	Permitted
Drivers under 18	Wireless-device use is prohibited, including hands-free use

What Does the New Hampshire Cell Phone and Distracted Driving Law Prohibit?

Under RSA §265:105-a, the restriction is framed around handheld use of a portable electronic device. It is broader than texting alone: holding a phone for a call, manually entering a destination, sending a message, watching video, or completing another handheld task falls within the conduct described in this article.

The law stands out in a state known for resisting some traffic-safety mandates. New Hampshire does not have a primary adult seat-belt law and does not require motorcycle helmets for riders over 18, yet it adopted a broad handheld-device restriction in response to distracted-driving concerns.

What Counts as Portable Electronic Device Use?

Covered manual use includes holding a portable electronic device for calls, texts, GPS entry, video, or another manual task. The available material does not separately classify tablets, standalone GPS units, laptops, music players, or similar electronics, so this article does not assign additional device-specific rules.

Can Adults Use Bluetooth or a Mounted Phone While Driving in New Hampshire?

Yes. Bluetooth use while driving in New Hampshire is permitted for adult drivers, as are an earpiece, a vehicle-integrated system, or speakerphone from a properly mounted device. A mounted phone may also display navigation instructions. The NH hands-free driving law does not allow an adult driver to hold the phone during the call.

Driver or situation	Handheld use	Hands-free or Bluetooth	Mounted GPS
Adult driver	Prohibited	Permitted	Display is permitted; one tap to start navigation is permitted on a properly mounted phone
Driver under 18	Prohibited	Prohibited	Pre-set route only; no device contact while driving
Emergency situation	The available material does not separately define an adult emergency-use exception.		For drivers under 18, the source material identifies a genuine 911 emergency when stopping safely is not possible.

Can You Touch a Mounted Phone While Driving in New Hampshire?

For an adult driver, one touch on a properly mounted phone to start navigation is permitted. After that, ongoing manual screen interaction while the vehicle is moving is not permitted. Enter the destination before moving and use the display or spoken directions without continued handling. If more manual interaction is needed, leave active traffic and park safely before using the device.

The available material does not separately define a different rule for a red light, temporarily stopped traffic, or a legally parked vehicle. Those situations are therefore not given a separate exception here.

How Much Is a New Hampshire Cell Phone Ticket?

A New Hampshire cell phone ticket uses an escalating fine structure for handheld-device violations:

1. First offense: $100
2. Second offense: $250
3. Third or subsequent offense: $500

What Else Happens After a New Hampshire Cell Phone Ticket?

• Court costs are added to the base fine.
• The conviction is recorded as a moving violation on the New Hampshire driving record.
• New Hampshire’s point system applies, and points accumulate toward suspension thresholds.
• Insurance carriers can review the driving record at renewal and may raise the premium.

The available material gives the $100, $250, and $500 escalation by offense count but does not specify a repeat-offense lookback period, so no time window is stated here.

The handheld-device rule applies statewide. New Hampshire State Police and local departments may enforce it on municipal streets, state highways, interstates, and rural roads throughout New Hampshire.

What Are New Hampshire Cell Phone Rules for Drivers Under 18?

New Hampshire’s Youth Operator License phone restrictions are stricter than the adult handheld ban. Drivers under 18 may not use wireless devices while driving, even when the device is operating through Bluetooth, speakerphone, or another hands-free system.

• No handheld calls or messages
• No Bluetooth or hands-free calls
• No speakerphone use from a mounted phone
• No phone-based voice commands while driving
• A genuine 911 emergency is the emergency exception described here

The adult hands-free allowance does not apply during the learner’s permit or Youth Operator License period. These violations are moving violations, and a pattern of wireless-device violations can delay progression to full unrestricted licensure.

What Emergency Phone Use Is Allowed for Drivers Under 18?

For drivers under 18, a genuine 911 emergency when stopping safely is not possible is the emergency exception described here. Broader emergency, public-safety, or reporting exceptions are not detailed in the available material, so no additional exception is stated.

Can You Use a Mounted Phone or GPS While Driving in New Hampshire?

For adult drivers, New Hampshire’s mounted phone and GPS rules allow GPS directions to be displayed on a mounted phone. The route should be entered before the vehicle moves, and the phone should be positioned where it does not obstruct the driver’s view.

• Mount the device securely on the dashboard or in a suitable lower windshield position.
• Enter the complete destination before driving.
• Use spoken directions to reduce the need to look at the screen.
• Avoid typing, searching, or changing settings while the vehicle is moving.
• Drivers under 18 should prepare the route in advance and avoid device use while driving.

On mountain routes where cell service may be unreliable, downloading offline maps before the trip can reduce the need to handle the phone if coverage drops.

Review New Hampshire learner’s permit and Youth Operator License rules on Shoro.ai.