Distracted driving news: A handheld cell phone ban for drivers took effect June 30, 2023. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on the three-bill distracted driving package June 7, as expected. The new law amends and expands state texting & driving regulations. Primary enforcement with fines from $100 to $250, plus possible points and community service. Law officers wrote 887 citations in the first six months, plus a similar number of warnings. "As a mom," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has long supported an upgrade in the distracted driving laws. HB 4252 sponsor state Rep. Mike Mueller has said: "What … [Read more...]
Missouri: Cell phone laws, legislation
December 2, 2008 by 17 Comments
Legislative update: A handheld cell phone law is now in effect in Missouri. The Highway Patrol cites a one-third reduction in calls to crashes linked to distracted driving. The law took effect Aug. 28, 2024, with warnings until early 2025. Senate Bill 398 from Sen. Nick Schroer set fines from $150 to $500, with enhanced punishments for school- and work-zone violations. Limited to secondary enforcement, meaning police need another reason for a stop. Signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson. MoDOT cites an increase in highway fatalities for the year, following two years of decreases. As of late … [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...]
Kansas: Cell phone laws, legislation
November 21, 2008 by 10 Comments
Cell phone, texting news: Lawmakers are making another run at prohibiting the use of handheld cell phones in the state's school and construction zones. The 2026 plan comes once again with a $60 fine and would take full effect in the summer of 2027. Kansas has the third-highest rate of fatalities due to distracted driving, but only bars texting & driving. The state's ban on text messaging while driving took effect Jan. 1, 2011. There are no statewide limits on cell phone use by adult drivers. No cell phone legislation succeeded in any of the sessions between 2010 and 2025. The state has one … [Read more...]
Washington state: Cell phone laws, legislation
November 20, 2008 by 16 Comments
Cell phone/texting news: 2023 was one of the deadliest years on Washington state roadways in recent decades. Almost 800 people died. There were 16,671 crashes linked to distracted driving with 121 of those resulting in a fatality, WSDOT reported in early 2024. The "Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act" hiked fines and allows reporting of offenders to their insurance companies. The 2017 act doubles fines for repeat violations of texting or other uses of a handheld cell phone or other portable electronic device. Offenses become moving violations. "All too often from our own cars, … [Read more...]
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