Do You Know Your State’s Distracted Driving Laws?

ALABAMA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers.
  • Texting and internet use is illegal for all drivers.

ALASKA

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

ARIZONA

  • For all drivers, texting while driving is prohibited.
  • For all drivers, handheld use of a cellphone is prohibited.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for school bus drivers.
  • Coconino County prohibits all cell phone use while driving.

ARKANSAS

  • There is a handheld and hands-free device ban for drivers age 18 and younger.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Drivers may not use any handheld or hands-free device while driving through a school zone or road work zone when students or workers are present.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Handheld device use is illegal for all drivers.

CALIFORNIA

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Use of any kind of device is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

COLORADO

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers with a learners permit only.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

CONNECTICUT

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

DELAWARE

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold either a learners permit or intermediate license.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

FLORIDA

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Handheld device use is prohibited in school zones, school crosswalks, and work zones when workers are present.

GEORGIA

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Handheld phone use is prohibited for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is completely prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18 who hold either an instruction permit or Class D license.
  • Cell phone use is completely prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.

HAWAII

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Handheld devices may not be used while stopped at an intersection or traffic light.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

IDAHO

  • Texting is banned for all drivers.
  • A bill passed in 2020 makes a handheld device use illegal for all drivers.
  • Idaho has a “Distraction in/on Vehicle (List)” attribute as part of its Contributing Circumstances element, and officers are supposed to list the distractions in the narrative.

ILLINOIS

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 19 who hold a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone.
  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.

INDIANA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18 who hold a probationary license.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • As of July 1, 2020, there is a handheld ban for all drivers.

IOWA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18 who hold a restricted license, instruction permit, or intermediate drivers license.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

KANSAS

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers who hold an instruction permit or restricted Class C and Class M licenses.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

KENTUCKY

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers. 

LOUISIANA

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers under the age of 16, and drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license regardless of age.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • All phone operation is prohibited in school zones during designated hours.

MAINE

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

MARYLAND

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers under the age of 18. 
  • Texting is illegal at all times for all drivers.

MASSACHUSETTS

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18. 
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • As of February 23, 2020, the entire state is hands-free meaning no handheld device can be used while driving.

MICHIGAN

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold a level I or level II license.

MINNESOTA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold a learner’s permit or provisional license.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

MISSISSIPPI

  • Texting is illegal for drivers who hold a learner’s permit, intermediate license, or temporary driving permit.
  • Using social media on a mobile device is prohibited for all drivers.
  • The use of a cell phone while transporting minors is illegal for school bus drivers.

MISSOURI

  • Texting is illegal for drivers under the age of 21.
  • In Chesterfield, Kansas City, Kirkwood, Lake St. Louis, Manchester, and St. Charles, texting while driving is illegal for all drivers.

MONTANA

  • Text messaging while driving is prohibited in Missoula. In Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Great Falls, Havre, Helena and Whitefish, Montana, text messaging and using hand-held cell phones while driving is prohibited. 
  • In Baker and Hamilton, all handheld cell phone use while driving is prohibited.
  • In Anaconda-Deer Lodge and Butte-Silver Bow Counties, all handheld cell phone use while driving is prohibited.
  • On Fort Peck Reservation all handheld cell phone use while driving is prohibited.

NEBRASKA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18 who hold either a learners permit or provisional license. This includes the LPE, SCP, LPD and POP licenses.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

NEVADA

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Effective July 2015, handheld cell phone use is prohibited for all drivers 
  • All wireless device (handheld and hands-free) use is prohibited for all drivers under age 18.

NEW JERSEY

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers except in the event of an emergency.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold a learners permit, special examination permit, or probationary license.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

NEW MEXICO

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold an instruction or provisional license. 

NEW YORK

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

NORTH CAROLINA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18 as well as any driver who holds a learners permit or a provisional license.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

NORTH DAKOTA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers under the age of 18.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

OHIO

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18 who hold an instruction permit and drivers who hold a probationary license. 
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers. 
  • There is a handheld device ban for all drivers.

OKLAHOMA

  • There is a handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
  • Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers. 
  • Public transit drivers and commercial drivers are prohibited from using a cell phone (handheld and hands-free).

OREGON

  • All drivers may only use a hands-free cell phone.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

PENNSYLVANIA

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

RHODE ISLAND

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers under the age of 18.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers, except in the event of an emergency.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers.

SOUTH DAKOTA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers with either an instruction permit or intermediate license.
  • Texting while driving is prohibited for all drivers.

TENNESSEE

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold either a learners permit or intermediate license.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers except in the event of an emergency.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • All drivers are prohibited from using handheld devices while driving.

TEXAS

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers with a learner’s permit for the first six months. 
  • Handheld cell phone use is prohibited for drivers under 18 years old.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • It is illegal to use handheld phones and text in school zones.
  • Texting while driving is prohibited for all drivers.
  • Some local governments have created stricter rules. Texting and handheld cell phone use while driving is prohibited in Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, San Antonio, and Stephenville.

UTAH

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Utah’s law defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding) while distracted by use of a handheld cell phone or other activities not related to driving.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.

VERMONT

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Handled device use is prohibited for all drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

VIRGINIA

  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers under the age of 18.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Using handheld devices in a work zone is illegal.

WASHINGTON

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold either an instruction permit or intermediate license.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.

WEST VIRGINIA

  • There is a handheld ban for all drivers.
  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for instruction permit holders and intermediate license holders under the age of 18.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers.

WISCONSIN

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • Cell phone use is prohibited (handheld and hands-free) for drivers who hold a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
  • Cities have the right to enforce stricter laws. All drivers in Marshfield, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids are banned from using handheld cell phones.

WYOMING

  • Texting is illegal for all drivers.
  • It is illegal for commercial drivers to use any devices while driving (handheld and hands-free).
  • Drivers in Cheyenne, Powell, and Green River are banned from handheld cell phone use.

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