Cell Phone Restrictions By State

 

September 14, 2016

 

This chart provides prohibitions on cell phones and texting and the use of televisions in the front seat of the vehicle where the driver can see them. These distractions have proven to be as dangerous as drunk driving. Many states have therefore enacted legislation restricting such activities while driving.

 

|

State

All Cell Phones Prohibited

Prohibits Drivers with Learner Permits from Using Cell Phone While Driving

Prohibits TV in Front Seat of Vehicle

Texting Ban

Alabama

 

Ages 16 and 17 with intermediate license <6 months

Yes

All drivers

Alaska

 

 

Yes

All drivers

Arizona

School bus drivers

 

Yes

 

Arkansas

School bus drivers; 18-20 year old

<18

 

All drivers

California

All drivers hand held; school and transit bus drivers all cell phones

Yes—<18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS or has interlock device

All drivers

Colorado

 

Yes—<18

Yes—Does not prohibit use of computer, data terminal in vehicle

All drivers

Connecticut

All drivers hand held; school bus drivers all cell phones

Yes<18

Yes—Does allow display that aids backing/parking or one that displays only when vehicle is not in motion

All drivers

Delaware

All drivers hand held; school bus drivers all cell phones

Yes—Learner and intermediate

 

All drivers

District of Columbia

All drivers hand held; school bus drivers all cell phones

Yes

 

All drivers

Florida

 

 

Yes—Navigation systems OK

All drivers

Georgia

All drivers hand held; school bus drivers all cell phones

Yes—<18

 

All drivers

Guam

 

 

 

All drivers

Hawaii

All drivers

Yes—<18

 

All drivers 

Idaho

 

 

 

All drivers

Illinois

School bus drivers; drivers while in construction and school zones

Yes—<19

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS or has interlock device

All drivers

Indiana

 

Yes—<18

Yes

All drivers

Iowa

 

Yes—Learner and intermediate

 

All drivers 

Kansas

 

Yes—Learner and intermediate

 

All drivers

Kentucky

School bus drivers

Yes—<18

 

All drivers

Louisiana

School bus drivers; <18;all drivers when going through a school zone

Yes—Hand held banned for a person who holds a learner or intermediate license

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

Maine

 

Yes—Learner and intermediate <18

Yes—Does not apply to law enforcement

All drivers

Maryland

All drivers hand held

Yes—Learner /provisional; <18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

Massachusetts

School and passenger bus drivers; <18

Yes

Yes

All drivers

Michigan

 

YesLevel 1 or 2 graduated license

YesIncludes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/ police equip

All drivers

Minnesota

School bus drivers; <18

Yes—Learner /provisional first 12 months

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/police equip.

All drivers

Mississippi

School bus drivers

 

 

All drivers

Missouri

 

 

 

<21

Montana

 

 

 

No Statewide ban, but several municipalities have implemented their own bans. Go to The Montana DMV website for more info

Nebraska

 

Yes—Learner/ provisional <18

Yes

All drivers

Nevada

All drivers hand held

 

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

New Hampshire

All drivers hand held

Yes

Yes

All drivers

New Jersey

All drivers hand held; operator of a moving vehicle involved in providing public transportation services

Yes—<21 with a GDL or provisional license

Yes

All drivers

New Mexico

 

YesLearner permit and intermediate license

Yes—Unless aids in operation of vehicle or used by law enforcement

 

New York

All drivers hand held

 

Yes

All drivers

North Carolina

Bus drivers; <18

Yes<18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

North Dakota

 

Yes—<18

 

All drivers

Ohio

 

Yes<18

 

All drivers

Oklahoma

Learner permit holders; intermediate license holders; school bus and public transit drivers

Learner permits and intermediate licenses may not use a hand-held device while operating vehicle

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS/ police equip.

Learner permit holders; intermediate license holders; school bus and public transit drivers

Oregon

All drivers hand held

Yes—Learner permit and intermediate license holders <18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

Pennsylvania

 

 

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

Puerto Rico

All drivers

 

Yes

All drivers

Rhode Island

Bus drivers; <18

<18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS equip.

All drivers

South Carolina

 

 

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/police equip.

All drivers

South Dakota

 

 

 

 

Tennessee

Bus drivers

Yes—Learner and intermediate

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping/GPS/ police equip.

All drivers

Texas

Bus drivers with children; school and construction zones; <18

Yes—Learner and intermediate for first 6 months; <18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/police equip.

Bus drivers when children are present; intermediate license holder first 6 months; school and construction zones; <18

Utah

All drivers

Drivers <18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/police equip.

All drivers

Vermont

All drivers < 18

 

 

Drivers <18

Yes—OK if used only to view rear of car

All drivers

Virgin Islands

All drivers handheld

 

 

All drivers

Virginia

School bus drivers

Yes—<18

Yes—Includes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/police equip.

All drivers

Washington

All drivers hand held

Learner permit and intermediate license holders

Yes

All drivers

West Virginia

Yes—All drivers hand held

Yes—Learner and intermediate < 18

Yes

All drivers

Wisconsin

Yes–All drivers in construction zones

Yes—Probationary license or instruction permit

Yes—does not apply to emergency vehicles.

All drivers

Wyoming

 

 

Yesincludes any type of visual screen unless mapping /GPS/police equip.

All drivers

 

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