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.
