Overview
- Full enforcement began Friday, June 5, 2026, ending a one-year warning phase and allowing police to stop drivers solely for holding or using handheld devices.
- The law makes handheld device use a primary offense and bans holding, supporting, or manually operating phones while driving, including when stopped at lights or in traffic.
- A conviction carries a $50 fine plus court costs and fees and does not add points to non-commercial driver records, though commercial drivers may have the violation recorded.
- Hands‑free systems like Bluetooth, voice commands, and dashboard mounts remain legal and drivers may use phones to call for help in emergencies.
- State data show thousands of distracted-driving crashes in 2025 and advocates led by Paul Miller Jr.’s mother say the law aims to save lives while prosecutors retain the option to seek harsher criminal charges if distraction causes serious injury or death.