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Cell phones and driving
From lawbrain.com
State laws regulate the ability of individuals to use cellular devices while driving.
Contents |
State and Local Law
There has been several studies that verify that the reaction time of cell phone users are dramatically slow and sluggish increasing the risk of accidents and tying up traffic in general.There has been a jurisdiction-wide ban on driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone that has gone into place in 7 states: California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington and also the District of Columbia. Utah has named the offense careless driving. Under the Utah law, no one commits an offense when speaking on a cell phone unless they are also committing some other moving violation other than speeding.[1]
There have also been individual cities itself who have had driving while talking on a cell phone laws. Local jurisdictions may or may not need specific state legal authority to ban cell phones. Localities that have passed restrictions on cell phone use include: Oahu, HI; Chicago, IL; Brookline, MA; Detroit, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Brooklyn, North Olmstead, and Walton Hills, OH; Conshohocken, Lebanon, and West Conshohocken, PA; Waupaca County, WI; and Cheyenne, WY.
Although there are various states who disallow their cities from have driving while talking on a cell phone law. Localities that are prohibited from banning cell phone use in 8 states (Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah).
There is also been laws passed for city certified workers who are prohibited in using a cell phone while driving. 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 cellphones by beginner drivers have also been restricted in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
Laws Regulating Texting While Driving
Other than the law that prohibits talking on a cell phone while driving, many states have prohibited texting while driving as well. Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 19 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in 9 states of: Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, and West Virginia.
References
External Links
- Cell Phone & Texting Laws
- Cellphones & Driving
- Countries that Ban Cellphones While Driving
- Cellphone Laws
- Statistics & Facts About Distracted Driving
- An Investigation of the Safety Implications of Wireless Communications in Vehicles
- New Cell Phone & Texting Laws
Related Resources on FindLaw
- Ban Cell Phones While Driving?
- Cellphone Related Accidents
- 9 out of 10 Drivers Distracted Behind the Wheel (FindLaw survey)
- Texting While Driving
- Distracted Driving
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