A new law went into effect Sept. 20 that bans drivers under the age of 18 from using cell phones or handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel.

Underage drivers who violate the law will be fined $50 for the first infraction, and $250 for the second or subsequent infractions.

According to a National Vital Statistics Report, automobile accidents are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and 75 percent of those deaths were attributed to the age group of 15 to 24 years. In Maine, fatal car accidents among inexperienced drivers prompted legislation to outlaw the distraction of talking on the phone among minors.

State Rep. Rich Cebra said those statistics hit home in Naples.

“Rarely do we get through a year without several fatal accidents in this Lakes Region,” said Cebra.

Cebra said that he thinks driving laws are too lenient in Maine, as a 15-year-old can get a learner’s permit and a 16-year-old can get a license. Cebra said he has made the decision not to allow his own 15-year-old son to get his learner’s permit until he turns 16, and is glad that cell phone use by underage drivers has been banned.

“The younger they are, the less their judgment systems have had enough experience (to deal with driving distractions),” said Cebra.

Another law came before the transportation committee during the same session, which aimed to make cell phone use by all Maine drivers illegal. And though Cebra adamantly backed the law for underage drivers, he feels adults should be considered differently.

“I am absolutely opposed to the state telling adults what to do,” said Cebra.

Lakes Region teenagers have opinions on the new law that directly affects them. Some have been driving for nearly two years already, and have become accustomed to chatting while driving. Ben Carlson, a 16 year-old Windham resident, believes the law should not target his age group alone.

“I think it shouldn’t be just for people under 18, because if you’re not using a (hands-free cellular device), everyone is a worse driver while talking on a cell phone. I’ve seen a lot of people drive worse because of it. It doesn’t matter what age they are,” said Carlson.

But 17-year-old Alison Somers, also of Windham, thinks the law is necessary for her age group in particular.

“I think it’s a good idea because a lot of teenagers are on their phones and using their iPods and not paying attention. People need to be paying attention to the road and not their friends,” said Somers.

State Sen. Bill Diamond, who sat on the transportation committee with Cebra, also supports the new law, though he wonders how enforceable it is, since it is not always easy to guess the age of young drivers.

“It’s probably going to have to be left to the judgment of the police, and hopefully people will abide by the law,” said Diamond.

Local police will now be on the lookout for violations, though they cannot pull a car over only because a driver looks young. Lt. David DeGruchy of the Windham Police Department said they will likely catch violations in situations where drivers are pulled over for other traffic violations.

“In order to stop a vehicle, we have to have an articulable suspicion, unless we know the person is under 18 or there’s another violation and we see the person talking on the phone, we may be able to prove an infraction,” said Degruchy.

DeGruchy said it will be interesting to see how the law is enforced, and whether it is effective at preventing accidents.

“It probably won’t hurt to have (the new law). It will remain to be seen how effective it is,” said Degruchy.