Cell phone, texting news: A rewrite of Oregon's distracted driving law took effect Oct. 1, 2017. The law ushered in by House Bill 2597 updates the law's wording to include any use of "mobile electronic devices" such as smartphones. The law outlaws holding these devices while driving. The plan also upgraded first-time infractions from Class C to Class B ($260 first offense). State Police report a surge in ticketing in the first few months, with 516 total distracted driving citations in October, November and December compared with 279 for the same period the year before. House Bill 2597 … [Read more...]
Iowa: Cell phone laws, legislation
December 10, 2008 by 22 Comments
Distracted driving news: Gov. Kim Reynolds has said she'll back hands-free legislation if and when lawmakers approve it. "I think it makes sense," the Republican governor has said. "The statistics are awful. Just awful." She threw her support to the 2025 House Bill 64 in her Condition of the State address. The Iowa state Senate approved a hands-free measure in 2023 and sent it to the House, where it sputtered out, as usual. Iowa heightened the enforcement of its texting & driving law in mid-2017 and soon reported sharply higher numbers of citations. Police no longer needed another … [Read more...]
Michigan vote: Yes on text, no on cell
December 5, 2008 by 1 Comment
The Michigan House voted to ban text messaging by drivers, but once again rejected a plan to restrict yakking motorists to handheld cell phones. The HB 5117 texting prohibition was approved by a strong 68-32 vote on Dec. 4. The legislation now must clear the Senate. The text-message vote specifics were not recorded due to the sponsor's request. Rep. Gino Polidori, D-Dearborn, was quoted as saying he expected his cell phone legislation HB 4982 to fail, which it did in a vote that wasn't close. "It's just a matter of time," Polidori said. "It will be back again next session. ... "Keeping … [Read more...]
U.S. cell phone, texting laws at a glance
December 3, 2008 by 22 Comments
An up-to-date listing of cell phone and texting restrictions across the States. Click on the state's name to view a full report on its distracted driving laws and pending legislation. Alabama: Handheld cell phone use and text messaging while driving illegal for anyone driving in the state of Alabama. Secondary enforcement. Alaska: Drivers are banned from text-messaging or watching videos. Arizona: Handheld cell phone use barred. School bus operators prohibited from using cell phones while driving. Arkansas: All drivers prohibited from text messaging. Drivers under 18 may not use … [Read more...]
Georgia: Cell phone laws, legislation
November 28, 2008 by 40 Comments
Cell phone legislation news: State Rep. John Carson continues to tinker with Georgia's distracted driving laws. The sponsor of 2018's Hands-Free Georgia Act returns with 2021-22 legislation that would remove the forgiveness for violators who buy hands-free kits. "It's time to close this loophole and save lives," he told reporters. The House agreed, backing his plan in early March. In 2020, Carson unsuccessfully sought to double the fines: "People are still using their phone because there’s not much deterrent" in the $50 cell phone fine, he said at the time. "The newness of it has worn … [Read more...]
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