New Cell Phone Laws
There are no federal laws on cell-phone use. However, a number of states are cracking down on cell-phone use. These laws have been passed in response to the amount of car accidents per year involving cell phone use.
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Hands-Free Laws
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Five states forbid using handheld cell phones while driving. However, 18 other states ban only novice drivers, such as teens, from using cell phones while driving.
Texting Laws
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Eight states ban text-messaging while driving for all drivers. Nine states ban only novice drivers from texting while driving.
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School Bus Driver Laws
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Six states prohibit school bus drivers from texting while driving, while 17 other states prohibit them from handheld cell phone use altogether.
Pre-emption Laws
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Eight states prohibit local jurisdictions, such as localities, from issuing bans on cell phone use. However, six other states do allow localities to issue these bans.
Penalties for Cell Phone Use
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State penalties vary for being caught texting or using a handheld device. In California, one of the strictest states for cell phone use, drivers are fined $20 for the first offense and $50 for repeated offenses. In New York, drivers can be fined over $100 per offense.
Prevention/Solution
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Write down the laws in your state regarding cell phone use while driving, and keep the notes in your car to remind you of the fines of using cell phones while driving.
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