Driver charged with trafficking fentanyl after allegedly violating Massachusetts cell phone law

RAYNHAM, Mass. (WWLP) – A man from Taunton was arrested when police found bags of fentanyl hidden inside a vehicle’s door panel during a traffic stop due to a cell phone violation.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, at around 8:45 a.m. on July 10th a trooper patrolling Route 24 in Raynham saw a driver in a black Nissan allegedly using his phone. In Massachusetts, operators of motor vehicles are prohibited from using any electronic device.

The driver was pulled over by a trooper and was identified as 24-year-old Joshua Bordes . He did not have a valid driver’s license or vehicle registration. While Bordes looked in the center console for the registration, the trooper saw a large stack of money wrapped in a band, a common indicator of drug activity.

Due to not having a license or registration, Bordes was placed into the cruiser and the trooper processed an information check. It revealed that Bordes had a suspended license and two warrants for his arrest. After his arrest, an inventory check was performed on the vehicle before it was towed.

A drug-sniffing police dog indicated that something was on the rear passenger door of the Nissan. Police removed the interior panel that revealed four bags of fentanyl of roughly 40 grams.

Bordes was charged with the following:

• Trafficking in fentanyl
• Operating a vehicle with a suspended license
• Operating a motor vehicle while holding an electronic device

The Massachusetts hands-free law went into effect in February 2020.

Drivers who are 18 and over

• Can only use electronic devices and mobile phones in hands-free mode and are only permitted to touch devices to activate hands-free mode.
• Not permitted to hold or support any electronic device/phone.
• Cannot touch phone except to activate the hands-free mode and can only enable when the device is installed or properly mounted to the windshield, dashboard, or center console in a manner that does not impede the operation of the motor vehicle.
• Not allowed to touch device for texting, emailing, apps, video, or internet use.
• Activation of GPS navigation is permitted when the device is installed or properly mounted.
• Handheld use is allowed only if the vehicle is both stationary and not located in a public travel lane or a bicycle lane, but is not allowed at red lights or stop signs.
• Voice to text and communication to electronic devices is legal only when device is properly mounted; use of headphone (one ear) is permitted.

Drivers who are under 18

• Are not allowed to use any electronic devices. All phone use while driving is illegal, including use in hands-free mode.

Operators may use a cell phone to call 911 to report an emergency. If possible, safely pull over and stop before calling 911.

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