Distracted driving: Electronic device laws (2024)

Alabamayes^{Footnote 1}writing, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internet^{Footnote 1}all driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or function while the device is mounted to the vehicledoes not apply when vehicle parked on shoulderyes, all 16-year-old drivers and 17-year-old drivers who have held an intermediate license for fewer than 6 monthsAlaskanowriting or reading; specifically applies to text messagenonedevice allowed if used for voice communication or reading caller identification informationnot addressednoArizonayeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle stopped for red light or for train at railroad grade crossingyes, all learner’s permit holders and intermediate license holders until they have been licensed for 6 months or turn 18, whichever occurs firstArkansasnowriting or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and social media; does not apply to reading, selecting or entering number or name for purpose of making calldrivers ages 18-20; drivers in school and work zones^{Footnote 2}not defineddoes not apply when vehicle parked to side of or off road in location where it may safely remain stationary (texting); not addressed (hand-held calls)yes, drivers younger than 18Californiaonly while using devicenot definedall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or function while the device is mounted to the vehiclenot addressedyes, drivers younger than 18Coloradoyes (effective 01/01/25)writing or sending; specifically applies to text messages, email, internet and watching a video or movie (effective 01/01/25)all drivers (effective 01/01/25)device allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate, deactivate or initiate using only a single touch or swipe (effective 01/01/25)does not apply when vehicle at rest on shoulder or lawfully parkedno (effective 01/01/25)Connecticutno^{Footnote 3}writing, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages^{Footnote 3}all driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle parked on side of road or shoulder where it may safely remain stationaryyes, drivers younger than 18Delawarenowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages and emailall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functionnot directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersDistrict of Columbiano^{Footnote 4}writing, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and email^{Footnote 4}all driversdevice allowed if equipped with hands-free accessorynot addressedyes, learner’s permit holders and drivers younger than 18Floridanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and emaildrivers in school crossing zones, school zones or work zonesdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle is stationarynoGeorgiayes^{Footnote 5}writing, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internet^{Footnote 5}all driversdevice allowed if voice-operateddoes not apply when lawfully parkednoHawaiiyesnot definedall driversnot defineddoes not apply when vehicle parked on side of road in safe location with engine offyes, drivers younger than 18Idahoonly while using devicenot definedall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except through one-touch access to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked or parked on side of or off road in location where it may legally remain stationarynoIllinoisonly while using devicespecifically applies to social mediaall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or hands-free (texting and hand-held calls) or without use of either hand except a single push to activate or deactivate feature or function (school zones)does not apply when vehicle stopped due to normal traffic obstructed and vehicle in neutral or park or vehicle parked on shoulderyes, drivers younger than 19 who hold a learner’s permit or intermediate licenseIndianayesnot definedall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or hands-freenot addressedyes, drivers younger than 21Iowanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email, internet and social media; does not apply to reading, selecting or entering number or name for purpose of making callnonedevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle stopped away from travel portion of roadwayyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holders, except when using device through permanently installed vehicle equipmentKansasnowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and email; does not apply to reading, selecting or entering number or name for purpose of making callnonedevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle stopped away from travel portion of roadwayyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersKentuckynowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and email; does not apply to reading, selecting or entering number or name for purpose of making callnonenot definednot directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motion on travel portion of roadwayyes, drivers younger than 18Louisiananowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and social media; does not apply to reading, selecting or entering number or name for purpose of making calllearner’s permit and intermediate license holders ages 18 and older; drivers in school zonesnot defined (texting); device allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or function (hand-held calls for learner’s permit holders ages 18 and older and drivers in school zones)not addressed (texting); does not apply when vehicle lawfully parked (hand-held calls)yes, drivers younger than 18; for the first year, drivers issued first driver’s licenseMainenowriting or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and email^{Footnote 6}all driversdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except a single swipe, tap, or push to activate or deactivate feature or function while the device is mounted to the vehicledoes not apply when vehicle parked on side of or off road in location where it may safely remain stationaryyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersMarylandnowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages and emailall driversnot defined (texting); device allowed if operated without use of either hand except to initiate or terminate a call or turn device on or off (hand-held calls, except for learner's permit and intermediate license holders ages 18 and older)not directly addressed; law prohibits texting when vehicle on travel portion of roadway; law prohibits hand-held calls when vehicle in motionyes, drivers younger than 18Massachusettsyesreading; specifically applies to textall driversdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle stopped away from travel portion of roadwayyes, drivers younger than 18Michiganyeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages and social mediaall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except a single touch to activate or deactivate feature or function or if using device when integrated into vehicledoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parkedno^{Footnote 7}Minnesotanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except a single touch to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully stopped in location not designed or ordinarily used for travel and not obstructing trafficyes, learner’s permit holders younger than 18 and all intermediate license holdersMississippinowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and social medianonedevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functionnot directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionnoMissouriyeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email, internet and social mediaall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked or stoppednoMontananononenonenot applicablenot applicablenoNebraskanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetnonedevice allowed if hands-freenot directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersNevadanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetall driversnot defined (texting); device allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or function (hand-held calls)not addressednoNew Hampshirenowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to internetall driversdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked on side of or off road in location where it remains stationaryyes, drivers younger than 18New Jerseyonly while using devicesending; specifically applies to text messagesall driversdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functionnot directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersNew Mexiconowriting or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetnonedevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle parked on side of or off road in location where it may safely remain stationaryyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersNew Yorkonly while using devicewriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetall driversnot defined (texting); device allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or function (hand-held calls)not directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionnoNorth Carolinanowriting or reading; specifically applies to text messages and emailnonedevice allowed if voice-operateddoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked or stoppedyes, drivers younger than 18North Dakotanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internet; does not apply to reading, selecting, or entering number or name for purpose of making callnonedevice allowed if voice-operated or hands-freedoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parkedyes, drivers younger than 18Ohiononot definedall drivers, unless device held near driver’s eardevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or function or if using device when integrated into vehicledoes not apply when vehicle stopped at traffic signal outside travel lane, or due to emergency or road closureyes, drivers younger than 18Oklahomanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and emaillearner’s permit and intermediate license holdersdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or function or if using device when integrated into vehicle (texting) or without use of either hand (hand-held calls)not directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionnoOregonyesspecifically applies to text messages, email and internetall driversdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or function^{Footnote 8}does not apply when vehicle safely stopped to side or off road, in designated parking space, or in roadway to conduct construction or utility maintenance workyes, drivers younger than 18Pennsylvaniayeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, emails, internet, games, photography, videos and social mediaall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand or support with a part of the body except to activate, deactivate or initiate using no more that the press of a single buttondoes not apply when the vehicle is to the side of or off of a highway and halted in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationarynoRhode Islandnowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and emailall drivers, if device held near driver’s eardevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle parked on side of or off road in location where it may safely remain stationary (texting); law prohibits use when vehicle in motion (hand-held calls)yes, drivers younger than 18South Carolinanowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and emailnonedevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked or stoppednoSouth Dakotanospecifically applies to social media; does not apply to reading, selecting or entering number or name for purpose of making call and using device for the callnonedevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parkedyes, learner's permit and intermediate license holdersTennesseeyeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetall driversdevice allowed if operated without use of either hand except a single swipe or tap to activate or deactivate feature or function while the device is mounted to the vehicledoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked or stopped or when driver lawfully leaves vehicle standingyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersTexasnowriting, sending or readingdrivers operating within school crossing zones or on school property for which a school crossing zone has been designateddevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle stoppedyes, drivers younger than 18Utahnowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email and internetnone^{Footnote 9}device allowed if voice-operated, without use of either hand, or if integrated into vehiclenot addressedyes, drivers younger than 18Vermontyeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and emailall driversnot defined (texting); device allowed if operated without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate hands-free use while the device is mounted to the vehicle or through internal feature without holding the device (hand-held calls)does not apply when vehicle parked on side of or off road in location where it may safely remain stationaryyes, drivers younger than 18Virginiayesnot definedall driversnot defineddoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parked or stoppednoWashingtonyeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and emailall driversdevice allowed without use of either hand except through minimal use of finger to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle parked on side of or off road in location where it may safely remain stationaryyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersWest Virginiayeswriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages, email, internet and social mediaall driversdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except through swipe or single touch to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parkedyes, drivers younger than 18Wisconsinnowriting or sending; specifically applies to text messages and email^{Footnote 10}drivers in work zones, utility work areas, or emergency or roadside response areas when workers are presentdevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functionnot directly addressed; law prohibits use when vehicle in motionyes, learner’s permit and intermediate license holdersWyomingnowriting, sending or reading; specifically applies to text messages, instant messages and email; does not apply to reading, selecting, or entering number or name for purpose of making callnonedevice allowed if voice-operated or without use of either hand except to activate or deactivate feature or functiondoes not apply when vehicle lawfully parkedno