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Several states restrict cell phone use while driving. State cell phone driving laws address issues specific to each state. For example, many states have identified cell phone use by novice drivers as an emerging highway safety problem and have restricted the practice. In some states, localities restrict cell phone use while driving through local ordinances or policies. Others prohibit localities from implementing such ordinances through preemption laws. Current state cell phone driving law highlights include the following:
State |
Crash |
Preemption Laws |
Handheld Ban |
All Cell Phone Ban |
Enforcement |
|
School Bus Drivers |
Novice Drivers |
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| Alabama | ||||||
| Alaska | Yes | |||||
| Arizona | Yes | Primary | ||||
| Arkansas | Yes | Primary | ||||
| California | Yes | Yes (eff. 7/2008; commercial drivers exempted until 2011) |
Yes | <18 (eff. 7/2008) | Primary | |
| Colorado | Yes | Learners Permit | Secondary | |||
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes (some professions exempted) |
Yes | Learners Permit and <18 | Primary | |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | GDL | Primary | ||
| D.C. | Yes (applies to all drivers, regardless of residency; some professions exempted) |
Yes | Learners Permit | Primary | ||
| Florida | Yes
("Driver Distraction" w/ cell phone in the narrative. <0.2% of 2006 reports cited cell phone use.) |
State law prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting restrictions. | ||||
| Georgia | Yes | Yes | Primary | |||
| Hawaii | ||||||
| Idaho | ||||||
| Illinois | Yes | By jurisdiction | Yes | <19 with Permit or GDL | Primary | |
| Indiana | Yes | |||||
| Iowa | Yes | |||||
| Kansas | ||||||
| Kentucky | No city, county, urban-county, charter county, consolidated local government or special district can impose a restriction. | Yes | Primary | |||
| Louisiana | Cities and parishes are forbidden from enacting legislation. | |||||
| Maine | <18 | Primary | ||||
| Maryland | Yes | <18 w/ Learner or Provisional License | Secondary | |||
| Massachusetts | Yes | By jurisdiction | Yes | Primary | ||
| Michigan | Yes | By jurisdiction | ||||
| Minnesota | Yes | Learner or Provisional License or until age 18 | Primary | |||
| Mississippi | State law prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting restrictions. | |||||
| Missouri | ||||||
| Montana | Yes | |||||
| Nebraska | Yes | Teens w/ Learners or Provisional License | Secondary | |||
| Nevada | Yes | State and local entities prohibited from regulating use. | ||||
| New Hampshire 1 | ||||||
| New Jersey | Yes | Localities are prohibited from enacting restrictions. | Yes
Text messaging prohibited |
Yes | <21 w/ GDL or Provisional License | Primary |
| New Mexico | By jurisdiction and in State vehicles | |||||
| New York | Yes | Yes | Primary |
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| North Carolina | Yes | Yes | <18 | Primary | ||
| North Dakota | ||||||
| Ohio | By jurisdiction | |||||
| Oklahoma | Yes | State law prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting restrictions. | ||||
| Oregon | Yes | State law prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting restrictions. | >18 w/ Learner or Provisional License | Secondary | ||
| Pennsylvania | Yes | By jurisdiction | ||||
| Rhode Island | Yes | <18 | ||||
| South Carolina | ||||||
| South Dakota | Yes |
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| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Learners Permit or Intermediate License | Primary | ||
| Texas | Yes | Yes, w/ passenger <17 | <18 in Learner or Intermediate Stage | Primary | ||
| Utah 2 | Yes | Municipalities may not establish regulations. | ||||
| Vermont | ||||||
| Virgin Islands | Yes | Yes | No data | |||
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | Intermediate License | Secondary | ||
| Washington | Yes | Yes (eff. 7/2008)
Text messaging prohibited |
Secondary | |||
| West Virginia | Learner or Intermediate Stage | Secondary | ||||
| Wisconsin | ||||||
| Wyoming | ||||||
| Total | 29 States + Virgin Islands | 9 States | 5 States + D.C., Virgin Islands Text Messaging: 2 States |
15 States + D.C. | 17 States + D.C. | Varies |
1 Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law.
2 Utah's law defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding) while distracted by use of a hand-held cellphone or other activities not related to driving.
Sources: American Automobile Association (AAA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and State Highway Safety Offices. Most recently reviewed February, 2008.
Countries with cell phone driving laws that restrict or prohibit handheld cell phones in cars: |
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Australia |
Greece |
Portugal |
Sweden |