Cell Phone Driving Laws in the United States
Updated: 02/07/2011 • Source: U.S. Department of Transportation’s Distraction.gov website
Alabama
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
Note: Alabama defines novice drivers as those age 16 or 17 with an intermediate license for less than 6 months.
Alaska
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Arizona
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for school bus drivers (Primary law)
Arkansas
- Handheld ban for drivers age 18-20 years old (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on cell phone use while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone (Secondary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Arkansas defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
California
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: California defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Colorado
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Colorado defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Connecticut
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Connecticut defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 or with a learner’s permit.
Delaware
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Delaware defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit or intermediate license holders.
Florida
- Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
Georgia
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Georgia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Hawaii
- No current bans for distracted driving, but all of the state’s counties have enacted distracted driving ordinances.
Idaho
- 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
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on cell phone use while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone
Note: Illinois defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 19.
Indiana
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Iowa
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)
Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers with a restricted or intermediate license.
Kansas
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Kansas defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
Kentucky
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
- Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
Note: Kentucky defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Louisiana
- Handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license regardless of age
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law for drivers under 18)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
- Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
Note: Louisiana defines novice drivers as those drivers within their 1st year of licensure.
Maine
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
- Maine has passed a law making it against the law to drive while distracted in the state
Note: Maine defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Maryland
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Maryland defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license.
Massachusetts
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Massachusetts defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license.
Michigan
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Teens with probationary licenses whose cell phone usage contributes to a traffic crash or ticket may not use a cell phone while driving.
Minnesota
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Minnesota defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license.
Mississippi
- Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free), including texting, for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
Note: Mississippi defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit or provisional license.
Missouri
- Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
Note: Missouri defines novice drivers as those age 21 and under.
Montana
- No current bans for distracted driving
Nebraska
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)
Note: Nebraska defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license.
Nevada
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
New Hampshire
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
- Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law
New Jersey
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: New Jersey defines novice drivers as those with a permit or provisional license.
New Mexico
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
Note: New Mexico defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s or provisional license.
New York
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
North Carolina
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: North Carolina defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
North Dakota
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: North Carolina defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Ohio
- No current bans for distracted driving
Oklahoma
- Handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license (Primary law)
- Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
Oregon
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Oregon defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Pennsylvania
- Ban on texting while driving for all drivers (Primary law) will be enacted on 3/8/12
Rhode Island
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Rhode Island defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
South Carolina
- South Carolina has a Distracted/Inattention attribute under Contributing Factors
South Dakota
- No current distracted driving bans
Tennessee
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Tennessee defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
Texas
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Texas has banned the use of hand-held phones and texting in school zones
Note: In Texas bus driver laws pertain to bus drivers with passengers age 17 and under. Novice drivers are defined as all drivers at the intermediate stage, first 12 months.
Utah
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
- 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
Vermont
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Vermont defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Virginia
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law; Primary law for bus drivers)
Note: Virginia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
Washington
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Washington defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit or in the intermediate state.
Washington, D.C.
- Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary)
Note: D.C. defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit.
West Virginia
- Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
- Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
Note: West Virginia defines novice drivers as all drivers under 18 with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
Wisconsin
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Wyoming
- Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Federal Cell Phone Laws
As of 10/21/2010, there is a federal law banning texting for all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators (for a definition of a CMV, visit our main cell phone car accident page). Electronic device restrictions have also been placed on train operators. However, as these federal laws must be enforced on state and local levels, penalities may vary from state to state.
