As Historic City News readers take off for vacation, to avoid the heat as well as the smoke, they need to keep in mind that as they travel, most states are not as liberal as Florida when it comes to “distracted driving” laws– use of a cell phone, speakerphone, or text messaging devices while driving.
Local governments, cities and counties, are preempted by Florida law from enacting their own “distracted driving” ordinances that would ban the use of the electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle — however, almost every other state has some level of restriction, limitation, or, prohibition.
So put down your smart phone as you travel and save a few dollars in fines and insurance premium increases — should you get a ticket. Plus, it will free you up to focus on shaving, putting on lipstick, fiddling with your navigation system, picking your nose and all the other distractions that drivers indulge.
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 less than 6 months
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Alaska
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
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Arizona
•Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for school bus drivers (Primary law)
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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 texting for all drivers (Primary law)
Note: Arkansas defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Delaware
•Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law) effective 1/2/11
•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) effective 1/2/11
Note: Delaware defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit or intermediate license holders.
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District of Columbia
•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.
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Florida
•Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans.
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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.
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Guam
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
To view the territory legislature click here to be taken to another site.
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Hawaii
•No current bans for distracted driving
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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.
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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)
•Illinois bans the use of cell phones 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.
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Indiana
•Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law), effective 7/1/11
Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
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Iowa
•Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary)
Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers with a restricted or intermediate license.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Maine
•Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
•Ban on texting for all drivers effective 9/1/11
•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.
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Maryland
•Handheld ban for all drivers (Secondary law) effective 10/1/10
•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
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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) effective 9/30/10
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law) effective 9/30/10
Note: Massachusetts defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license
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Michigan
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
•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
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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
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Mississippi
•Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
•Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
Note: Mississippi defines novice drivers as drivers with a learner’s permit or provisional license
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Missouri
•Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
Note: Missouri defines novice drivers as drivers age 21 and under
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Montana
•No current bans for distracted driving
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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
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Nevada
•No current bans for distracted driving
•Ban on texting for all drivers effective 7/1/11
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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.
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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 under the age of 21 with a GDL or a provisional license.
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New Mexico
•Handheld ban for drivers with in state vehicles
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New York
•Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)
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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)
Note: North Carolina defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
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North Dakota
•Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and Hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law) (effective1/1/12)
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary) (effective 8/1/11)
Note: North Dakota defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
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Ohio
•No current bans for distracted driving
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Oklahoma
•Handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license (Primary law) effective 11/10
•Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law) effective 11/10
•Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law) effective 11/10
•Ban on texting for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license (Primary Law) effective 11/10
•Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans
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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.
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Pennsylvania
•No current distracted driving bans
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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.
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South-Carolina
•South Carolina has a Distracted/Inattention attribute under Contributing Factors.
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South Dakota
•No current distracted driving bans
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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.
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Texas
•Ban on all cell phone (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 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.
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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
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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.
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Virgin Islands
•Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
To view the territory legislature click here to be taken to another site.
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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 (Primary law)
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law; Primary law for bus drivers)
Note: Viriginia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.
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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.
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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 with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.
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Wisconsin
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law) effective 12/2010
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Wyoming
•Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
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