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Girl holding a phone to her ear while driving

Cell Phone and Texting Laws

This chart outlines all state cell phone and text messaging laws. Some local jurisdictions may have additional regulations. Enforcement type is shown in parenthesis.

Crash Data Collection: Many states include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment distraction on police accident report forms. Recently proposed federal legislation would require states to collect this data in order to qualify for certain federal funding.

Preemption Laws: Many localities have passed their own distracted driving bans. However, some states – such as Fla., Ky., La., Miss., Nev., and Okla. – prohibit localities from enacting such laws.

State Handheld Ban All Cell Phone Ban Text Messaging Ban Crash
Data
School Bus Drivers Novice Drivers All
Drivers
School Bus Drivers Novice Drivers
Alabama     16, or 17 w/ Intermediate License <6 months
(Primary)
    16, or 17 w/ Intermediate License <6 months
(Primary)
 
Alaska       Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Arizona   Yes
(Primary)
         
Arkansas 1 18 - 20 years old (Primary) Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Secondary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
California Yes
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Secondary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Colorado     <18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Connecticut Yes
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
Delaware Yes
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Learner or Intermediate License (Primary) Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
D.C. Yes
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Learners Permit
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Florida              
Georgia   Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Guam       Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
Hawaii 2 See footnote            
Idaho 3             See footnote
Illinois 4 See footnote Yes
(Primary)
<19
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Indiana     <18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 7/1/11)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Iowa     Restricted or Intermediate License
(Primary)
Yes
(Secondary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Kansas     Learner or Intermediate License
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Kentucky   Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
Louisiana Learner or Intermediate License
(regardless of age)
Yes
(Primary)
1st year of License
(Primary for <18)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Maine     <18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 9/1/11)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Maryland Yes
(Secondary)
  <18 w/ Learner or Provisional License
(Secondary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Massachusetts   Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Michigan 5     See footnote Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Minnesota   Yes
(Primary)
<18 w/ Learner or Provisional License
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Mississippi   Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 7/1/11)
    Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 7/1/11)
Learner or Provisional License
(Primary)
 
Missouri           <21
(Primary)
 
Montana             Yes
Nebraska     <18 w/ Learner or Intermediate License
(Secondary)
Yes
(Secondary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Nevada Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 1/1/12)
    Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 1/1/12)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
New Hampshire 6       Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
New Jersey Yes
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Permit or Provisional License
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
New Mexico In State vehicles   Learner or Provisional License
(Primary)
    Learner or Provisional License
(Primary)
Yes
New York Yes
(Primary)
    Yes
(Secondary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
North Carolina   Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
North Dakota     <18
(Primary)
(eff. 1/1/12)
Yes
(Primary)
(eff. 8/1/11)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Ohio              
Oklahoma Learner or Intermediate License
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
    Yes
(Primary)
Learner or Intermediate License
(Primary)
Yes
Oregon Yes
(Primary)
  <18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Pennsylvania             Yes
Rhode Island   Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
South Carolina 7             See footnote
South Dakota             Yes
Tennessee   Yes
(Primary)
Learner or Intermediate License
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Texas 8   Yes, w/ passenger <17
(Primary)
Intermediate License, 1st 12 mos.
(Primary)
  Yes, w/ passenger <17
(Primary)
Intermediate License, 1st 12 mos.
(Primary)
Yes
Utah 9 See footnote     Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Vermont     <18
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
Virgin Islands Yes           Yes
Virginia   Yes
(Primary)
<18
(Secondary)
Yes
(Secondary)
Covered under all driver ban
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Washington Yes
(Primary)
  Learner or Intermediate Licence
(Primary)
Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
West Virginia     <18 w/ Learner or Intermediate Licence
(Primary)
    <18 w/ Learner or Intermediate Licence
(Primary)
 
Wisconsin       Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban  
Wyoming       Yes
(Primary)
Covered under all driver ban Yes
Total States 9 + D.C., Virgin Islands
Primary (8)
Secondary (1)
19 + D.C.
All Primary
30 + D.C.
Primary (25 + D.C.)
Secondary (5)
34 + D.C., Guam
Primary (30 + D.C., Guam)
Secondary (4)
3
All Primary
7
All Primary
34 + D.C., Virgin Islands
1 Effective 10/1/2011, Arkansas also bans the use of handheld cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone. This law is secondarily enforced.
2 Hawaii does not have a state law banning the use of handheld cell phones. However, all of the state's counties have enacted distracted driving ordinances.
3 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.
4 Illinois bans the use of handheld cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone.
5 In Michigan, teens with probationary licenses whose cell phone usage contributes to a traffic crash or ticket may not use a cell phone while driving.
6 Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law.
7 South Carolina has a Distracted/inattention attribute under Contributing Factors.
8 Texas has banned the use of hand-held phones and texting in school zones.
9 Utah's law defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding) while distracted by use of a handheld cellphone or other activities not related to driving.

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general information purposes only and is not to be considered legal authority. For clarification on any law, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.