Texting While Driving State Laws Chart
LegalMatch Law Library Managing Editor, Ken LaMance, Attorney at Law
Which states ban texting while driving?
Texting while driving is against the law in 30 out of the 50 U.S. states. Some state laws have a complete ban, which means that all drivers including school bus drivers and younger drivers may not text while driving. Other states only ban texting while driving for younger drivers or those who have an intermediate, provisional, or learner’s license.
Texting while driving is a primary offense in 26 states. This means that the police can pull a driver over if they are caught texting while driving. In the other 4 states, the offense is considered to be secondary, which means that the police can only cite the person if they first commit a different traffic offense such as speeding.
The following is a chart listing the texting bans by state:
|
State
|
Type of Texting Ban
|
||
|
All Drivers (complete ban)
|
School Bus Drivers
|
Younger Drivers
|
|
|
Alabama
|
|
|
16 or 17 years old with intermediate license
|
|
Alaska
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Arizona
|
None
|
|
|
|
Arkansas
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
California
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Colorado
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Connecticut
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Delaware
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
D.C.
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Florida
|
None
|
|
|
|
Georgia
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Hawaii
|
None
|
|
|
|
Idaho
|
None
|
|
|
|
Illinois
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Indiana
|
|
|
Younger than 18 years old
|
|
Iowa
|
Yes (secondary)
|
|
|
|
Kansas
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Louisiana
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Maine
|
|
|
Younger than 18 years old
|
|
Maryland
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Massachusetts
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Michigan
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Minnesota
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
|
|
Provisional License ban
|
|
Missouri
|
|
|
Younger than 21
|
|
Montana
|
None
|
|
|
|
Nebraska
|
Yes (secondary)
|
|
|
|
Nevada
|
None
|
|
|
|
New Hampshire
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
New Jersey
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
New Mexico
|
|
|
|
|
New York
|
Yes (secondary)
|
|
|
|
North Carolina
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
North Dakota
|
None
|
|
|
|
Ohio
|
None
|
|
|
|
Oklahoma
|
|
Yes
|
Intermediate or Learners permit
|
|
Oregon
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
None
|
|
|
|
Rhode Island
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
South Carolina
|
None
|
|
|
|
South Dakota
|
None
|
|
|
|
Tennessee
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Texas
|
|
Yes, with passengers
|
Intermediate License ban
|
|
Utah
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Vermont
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Virginia
|
Yes (secondary)
|
|
|
|
Washington
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
West Virginia
|
|
|
Intermediate license ban
|
|
Wisconsin
|
Yes
|
|
|
|
Wyoming
|
Yes
|
|
|
Do I need a lawyer if I am cited for texting while driving?
Texting while driving can lead to consequences including fines and points on one’s driving record. In some jurisdictions, repeat offenses can result in misdemeanor charges. You should consult an attorney if you have questions regarding texting while driving charges.
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Last Modified: 10-06-2010 03:02 PM PDT
