New Hampshire has statutes banning 'reckless' or 'negligent' driving, regardless of cause. In addition, starting July 1, 2015, New Hampshire specifically banned hand-held cellphone use while driving, regardless of whether a driver is seen to drive recklessly. This includes: 

• Making hand-held phone calls;
• Any texting or typing emails;
• Programming GPS systems. 

The law applies even when a driver is stopped temporarily, such as at a stop sign or a red light. It calls for fines of $100 for the first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for subsequent offenses within 24-months. 

Adult drivers in New Hampshire are allowed to interact with phones using hands-free devices such as a Bluetooth speaker, devices built into the vehicle and two-way radios. However, the law does ban all cellphone use—hands free or not—by drivers under 18.

There are some exceptions:

• Drivers can use a phone if they are pulled over off the road. 
• Drivers can answer the phone through a speaker or Bluetooth connection, but not pick it up and hold it to their ear. 
• Emergency calls are permitted for all drivers at any time. 

There have been attempts in recent years to add other exceptions, such as programming a GPS, but so far these have failed to pass the Legislature. 

Primary vs. secondary offenses

New Hampshire law makes using a hand-held mobile device while driving a primary offense. That means a driver can be pulled over and ticketed for violating the law, even if they haven't committed any other offense. 

Some officials have argued the law should be changed to make it instead a secondary offense. This would mean a New Hampshire driver could only be ticketed for hand-held phone use if they were first pulled over for another violation, such as speeding. There have been attempts to make this change in the Legislature in recent years, but so far they have all failed.

Other types of distractions

In the past, legislators have considered adding other specific behaviors to the state's distracted driving laws, such as holding an animal on your lap while driving. So far, none of these have passed.