State | Banned? | Notes |
Alabama | No | |
Alaska | No | |
Arkansas | Partial | School bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone. |
Arizona | Partial | A bill to introduce a ban was lost by a 4-3 vote in the Senate Transportation Committee. Bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone |
California | Yes | Beginning July 1, 2008, violators face a US$20 fine for a first offense and a US$50 ticket for subsequent infractions. Law passed Sept 2007 bans all under-18s from using a phone at all, even with handsfree kit. |
Colorado | No | Teens with restricted licenses are banned - but can only be stoped for another violation first |
Connecticut | Yes | Banned with effect from Oct. 2005 - teens are also forbidden from using handsfree kits while moving |
Delaware | No | A driver can already be prosecuted for "inattentive driving" - which can include using a cell phone. Studies into the issue have been requested |
District of Columbia | Yes | Banned from July 2004 |
Florida | Partial | State Attorney General said that cities can set local regulations - July 2001. Overturned by Governor Bush.. |
Georgia | Partial | School bus drivers banned from using cell phones while driving. DeKalb County has fines when crashes can be attributed to driving while using a cellphone. |
Hawaii | Being debated | A bill has been introduced in Hawaii's legislature by Sen. Joseph Souki, D-Wailuku-Waiehu. |
Idaho | No | |
Illinois | Partial | School bus drivers are banned - Chicago has passed a bill banning driving while using a phone, fines of US$50 per infraction. |
Indiana | No | Ban proposed by State Sen. Rose Antich Carr - Jan 2004 |
Iowa | Being debated | |
Kansas | No | Bill to introduce ban failed in 2000 |
Kentucky | No | |
Louisiana | Being debated | Study into the effects of a ban underway |
Maine | Partial | Minors and those on learner driving licenses may not use a cell phone while driving |
Maryland | No | Bill to ban dropped Feb. 2001. New proposal in the House, proposed by Delegates Arnick and Mandel |
Massachusetts | Partial | Bill for most users pending - but bus drivers already banned. Drivers required to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel while holding a phone. |
Michigan | No | |
Minnesota | Partial | Teenagers and provisional drivers are banned - $100 fine plus delays in license upgrades for offenders |
Mississippi | No | Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban. |
Missouri | No | |
Montana | No | |
Nebraska | No | Bill planned by State Sen. Jim Cudaback - Jan 2004 |
Nevada | No | State bill to introduce ban failed April 1999. Local bill in Clark County also blocked Nov. 2001. Nevada state passed bill banning local regulations, March 2003. |
New Hampshire | Partial | Not explicitly banned, but you can be prosecuted if using a cellphone when involved in an driving accident. |
New Jersey | Yes | Banned from 2004, updated from March 2008 - fine US$100 |
New Mexico | Partial | Being debated - local ban in the cities of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, and Las Vegas |
New York | Yes | Ban effective from Nov. 2001 |
North Carolina | Being debated | Study into the effects of cell phone usage while driving being carried out. |
North Dakota | Being debated | Bill proposed by Sen. Harvey Tallackson, D-Grafton, Feb 2005 |
Ohio | Partial | The City of Cleveland is discussing a ban. Ban in place in Brooklyn. |
Oklahoma | No | Bill to introduce ban failed in May 1999. Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban. |
Oregon | No | A new bill enacted in Jan 2002 forbids the local governments from implementing their own cell phone ban. |
Pennsylvania | Partial | Local cities have their own laws - state legislation pending |
Rhode Island | No | Governor Almond rejected a ban - July 2001. School buses are banned from using a cell phone. Proposal for a ban being debated, April 2004. |
South Carolina | No | |
South Dakota | No | |
Tennessee | Partial | School buses are banned from using a cell phone |
Texas | No | Senate Bill 154 proposed. If passed would come into effect from 2008. A previous attempt in 2005 failed |
Utah | No | Bill to introduce ban failed March 1998. Highland city planning a ban - Feb 2005 |
Vermont | No | |
Virginia | Partial | Bill banning minors passed Jan 2005. Bill banning 16-17yr olds with conditional licenses passed March 2007 |
Washington | Partial | Ban imposed, to come into effect from July 2008. Driving while sending text messages separately banned with effect from Jan 1st 2008 |
West Virginia | No | Bill proposed in 1999, but never debated |
Wisconsin | No | Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1998. Bill to ban younger drivers only being debated. |
Wyoming | No | Bill proposed by Rep. Floyd Esquibel but not debated |
