Cell Phone Laws in USA (as of September 2007)


  • A jurisdiction-wide ban on driving while talking on a hand-held cellular phone is in place in 5 states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Utah) and the District of Columbia.
  • Localities are allowed to ban cellphone use in 6 states (Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, and Pennsylvania).  Localities that have enacted restrictions on cellphone use include: Chicago, IL; Brookline, MA; Detroit, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Brooklyn, North Olmstead and Walton Hills, OH; and Conshohocken, Lebanon and West Conshohocken, PA.
  • Localities are prohibited from banning cellphone use in 8 states (Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah).
  • The use of all cellular phones while driving a school bus is prohibited in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
  • The use of cellular phones by teens in the graduated licensing system is restricted in 17 states and the District of Columbia.
  • All but 8 states with cellphone bans have primary enforcement laws.  New Jersey's bad is a secondary enforcement lat for everyone except school bus drivers and learner's permit and intermediate license holders.  Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia have secondary enforcement laws.  Secondary enforcement laws may only be enforced when a driver has been stopped for another infraction.  Utah's las defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding) while distracted by use of a hand-held cellphone or other activities not related to driving.
State Cell Phone Restrictions
Hand Held Ban All Cell Phone Ban
Alabama no no
Alaska no no
Arizona no School bus drivers
Arkansas no School bus drivers
California Yes (effective 7/1/2008) School and transit bus drivers and rivers younger than 18 (effective 07/01/2008)
Colorado no Learner's permit holders
Connecticut yes Learner's permit holders, drivers younger than 18, and school bus drivers
Delaware no School bus drivers and learner's permit and intermediate license holders
District of Columbia yes School bus drivers and learner's permit holders
Florida no no
Georgia no school bus drivers
Hawaii no no
Idaho no no
Illinois By jurisdiction Learner's permit holders, drivers younger than 18, and school bus drivers (effective 01/01/2008)
Indiana no no
Iowa no no
Kansas no no
Kentucky no school bus drivers
Louisiana no no
Maine no Learner's permit and intermediate license holders
Maryland no Learner's permit and intermediate license holders
Massachusetts By jurisdiction School bus drivers
Michigan By jurisdiction no
Minnesota no Learner's permit holders and license holders during the first 12 months after licensing
Mississippi no no
Missouri no no
Montana no no
Nebraska no learner's permit and intermediate license holders younger than 18 may not use a cellphone or other wireless communication device (effective 01/01/2008)
Nevada no no
New Hampshire no no
New Jersey yes School bus drivers and learner's permit and intermediate license holders
New Mexico By jurisdiction no
New York yes no
North Carolina no drivers younger than 18 and school bus drivers (effective 12/01/2007)
North Dakota no no
Ohio By jurisdiction no
Oklahoma no no
Oregon no learner's permit and intermediate license holders (effective 01/01/2008)
Pennsylvania By jurisdiction no
Rhode Island no School bus drivers and drivers younger than 18
South Carolina no no
South Dakota no no
Tennessee no School bus drivers and learner's permit and intermediate license holders
Texas no Bus drivers when a passenger 17 and younger is present; intermediate license holders
Utah yes no
Vermont no no
Virginia no intermediate license holders
Washington text messaging prohibited (eff. 01/01/2008); hand held ban (eff. 07/01/2008 no
West Virginia no learner's permit and intermediate license holders
Wisconsin no no
Wyoming no no

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