This chart outlines all state cell phone and text messaging laws. Some local jurisdictions may have additional regulations. Enforcement type is shown in parenthesis.
Survey of the States Published 2010
Letters Supporting Federal Role
(October 21, 2009)
House [46 KB, 3 pgs.]
Senate [47 KB, 3 pgs.]
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 |
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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 |
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.