Is talking on the cell phone while you’re behind the wheel or texting while driving banned in your state?  Not sure what the laws are where you live?  As of February, 2010, here’s a run-down of the current state cell phone driving laws:

Handheld Cell Phone Bans – All Drivers

 California
 Connecticut
 New Jersey
 New York
 Oregon
 Utah – Utah considers speaking on a cell phone to be an offense only if a driver is also committing some other moving violation (other than speeding).
Washington State
The District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands also prohibit drivers from talking on handheld cell phones while driving.

Handheld Cell Phone Bans – Drivers Younger than 18 (including the above)

Arkansas
Colorado
Indiana
Rhode Island
Virginia

Text Messaging:  19 states, the District of Columbia and Guam now ban text messaging for all drivers

Alaska
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Illinois
Louisiana
Maryland
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Oregon
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
Washington

Other Cell Phone Laws

In some cases under secondary laws, an officer must have some other reason to stop a vehicle before citing a driver for using a cell phone.

Local jurisdictions may or may not need specific state statutory authority to ban cell phones.

The use of all cell phones while driving a school bus is prohibited in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 21 states and the District of Columbia.

Interesting Note: Many states include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment distraction on police accident report forms and recently proposed federal legislation would require states to collect this data in order to qualify for certain federal funding.

For more behind the wheel cell phone restrictions and for further information on what cell phone laws are in your state, click here to visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Tags: Automobile Safety, General, Teen Drivers // 1 Comment »