Woman charged with OUI after stop for texting while driving

AMHERST — A Northfield woman whose vehicle was stopped after officers observed her texting while driving was arrested early Sunday morning, according to Amherst Police.

Molly C. Osowski, 22, was taken into custody at 12:38 a.m. on Montague Road near the entrance to Mill River Recreation Area on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle to endanger and texting while driving, said Detective Nicholas Chandler.

Chandler said officers on patrol in the area observed Osowski using her cellphone, prompting the stop.

Amherst Police is among numerous agencies across the state participating in a distracted driving enforcement initiative that is putting additional patrols on the roads through grants from the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

Drivers in Massachusetts are prohibited from writing, sending or reading electronic messages and browsing the Internet when driving or stopped at lights.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.

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