State Laws on Distracted Driving
Some states and territories have enacted bans on hand-held devices or texting to help reduce the dangers to the public from distracted driving.
A ban on hand-held devices has been enacted in:
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Washington
- Virgin Islands
A texting ban has been enacted in:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Guam
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Some states ban cell phone use in school zones or construction sites, and some place restrictions on novice drivers and school bus drivers.
Six states have laws that prohibit local jurisdictions from enacting restrictions. They are Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Oklahoma. In other states, localities are allowed to ban cell phone use or texting while driving.
List of state bans
For more information, including a state-by-state list of bans in effect, see the Governors Highway Safety Information website.
