Alabama

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Alabama defines novice drivers as those age 16 or 17 with an intermediate license less than 6 months

Alaska

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature ban on texting click here to be taken to another site.

Arizona

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for school bus drivers (Primary law)

Arkansas

Handheld ban for drivers age 18-20 years old (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Arkansas defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

California

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: California defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Colorado

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Colorado defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Connecticut

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Connecticut defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 or with a learner’s permit.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Delaware

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Delaware defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit or intermediate license holders.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

District of Columbia

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: D.C. defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Florida

Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)

Georgia

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Georgia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Guam

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the territory legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Hawaii

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Idaho

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Idaho has a “Distraction in/on Vehicle (List)” attribute as part of its Contributing Circumstances element, and officers are supposed to list the distractions in the narrative.

Illinois

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Illinois bans the use of cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law, eff. 1/1/14)

Note: Illinois defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 19.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Indiana

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

Iowa

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary)

Note: Iowa defines novice drivers as all drivers with a restricted or intermediate license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Kansas

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Kansas defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Kentucky

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Kentucky defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Louisiana

Handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license regardless of age

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law for drivers under 18)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Louisiana defines novice drivers as those drivers within their 1st year of licensure

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Maine

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Maine has passed a law making it against the law to drive while distracted in the state

Note: Maine defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

Maryland

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Maryland defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Massachusetts

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Massachusetts defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Michigan

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

In Michigan, teens with probationary licenses whose cell phone usage contributes to a traffic\crash or ticket may not use a cell phone while driving

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Minnesota

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Minnesota defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Mississippi

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)

Note: Mississippi defines novice drivers as drivers with a learner’s permit or provisional license

Missouri

Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)

Note: Missouri defines novice drivers as drivers age 21 and under

Montana

No current bans for distracted driving

Nebraska

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)

Note: Nebraska defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner’s permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Nevada

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

New Hampshire

Handheld ban for drivers of all ages (Primary law, eff. 7/2015)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law, eff. 7/2015)

Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

New Jersey

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: New Jersey defines novice drivers as those under the age of 21 with a GDL or a provisional license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

New Mexico

Handheld ban for drivers with in state vehicles

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law eff. 7/14)

New York

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

North Carolina

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: North Carolina defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

North Dakota

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: North Dakota defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Ohio

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)

Oklahoma

Handheld ban for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license (Primary law)

Ban on texting for drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license (Primary Law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Oregon

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Oregon defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Pennsylvania

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Rhode Island

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Rhode Island defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

South Carolina

Ban on texting for drivers of all ages (Primary law)

South Dakota

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)

Ban on texting for drivers of all ages (Secondary law, eff. 7/1/14)

Tennessee

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Tennessee defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Texas

Ban on all cell phone (handheld and Hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone (handheld and Hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)

Texas has banned the use of handheld phones and texting in school zones

Note: In Texas bus driver laws pertain to bus drivers with passengers age 17 and under. Novice drivers are defined as all drivers at the intermediate stage, first 12 months.

Utah

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Utah’s law defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding)\nwhile distracted by use of a handheld cell phone or other activities not related to driving

Ban on cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Vermont

Ban on cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for drivers of all ages (Primary law, eff. 10/14)

Ban on texting for drivers of all ages (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Virgin Islands

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the territory legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Virginia

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for school bus drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Viriginia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Washington

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Washington defines novice drivers as those with a learner’s permit or in the intermediate state.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

West Virginia

Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

Note: West Virginia defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner’s permit or intermediate license.

Wisconsin

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law) effective 11/1/12

Ban on cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

Wyoming

Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.