Lowell seeks fines for texting while driving

Following Boston’s lead, Lowell on Jan. 12 became the second city in the state to approve a home rule petition that would authorize police to fine motorists for texting while driving.

Like the Boston petition that Mayor Thomas Menino signed in December, Lowell’s proposal would assess a $100 fee for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $300 for a third offense within a 12-month period.

Most states in the Northeast, including Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, already have passed statewide laws banning text-messaging while driving, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In Massachusetts, the House and Senate made progress toward a texting-while-driving law during the first half of last year, but a bill never reached the governor’s desk.

Lowell Councillor William Martin, the chief proponent of the home rule petition, said the proposal was modeled on Boston’s in part because the Boston proposal appears to be picking up momentum.

Martin said that while the Lowell Police Department is in favor of the home rule petition, police officials also realize that a statewide ban would be easier to enforce.

“I would hope that the Legislature does something about [a statewide ban] sooner rather than later, but in the meantime we’d like to push ahead, because we think it’s a serious public safety issue that needs to be addressed,” he said.

Officials from a number of other municipalities also have expressed interest in following Boston’s example, according to press reports.