Laws Driving With Earbuds and Headphones Differ Around New England

We love to take advantage of traveling around New England, with so much in such close proximity. From Cape Cod to spending time in Newport, Rhode Island, enjoying coastal Maine and New Hampshire's Seacoast, antique shopping in Vermont, or spending time in Mystic, Connecticut, we're all about it.

Whatever the reason you decide to put on your earphones, earbuds, headphones, or the like while driving, you know you're complying with hands-free laws, which are pretty much everywhere, according to the Find Law website.

The tricky part is that there are no federal guidelines about earbuds and their counterparts while driving (according to Find Law), so it's up to you to understand what you're allowed to do and not do around New England.

Let's start with the easiest, according to Forbes.

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut: It's legal to wear them in both ears. However, if a law enforcement official thinks they're interfering with safe driving, you can be pulled over for distracted driving, for example.

If you're wearing them while speeding or if you cause an accident (or any myriad of things), that could easily result in an extra fine or more, according to Find Law.

Now let's talk about Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where it's legal and illegal, according to Find Law.

Rhode Island: You can only use one earbud or the like if you're on the phone with the other ear free.

Massachusetts: You can only use one earbud or the like if you're listening to a GPS device with the other ear free.

To see where other states land, click here.