Distracted Driving Laws by State [Interactive Map]

Which states in the U.S. ban handheld cell phone use while driving? The map below shows where it’s banned, and where it’s not, across the country. The states in purple all have a straight out ban on handheld phone use while driving. The red colored states have some type of ban, while the states in tea allow cell phone use while driving.

Below is a table that lists information for each state in the U.S.

StateHandheld BanHandheld EnforcementTexting Ban (All Drivers)Texting EnforcementNovices (All phones)
AlabamaNoN/AYesPrimary16, or 17 w/ Intermediate license <6 months
AlaskaNoN/AYesPrimaryNo
ArizonaYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
Arkansas18 – 20 years old (primary), school and work zones (secondary)Primary, SecondaryYesPrimary<18
CaliforniaYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
ColoradoNoN/AYesPrimary<18
ConnecticutYesPrimaryYesPrimaryYes
D.C.YesPrimaryYesPrimaryLearners permit
DelawareYesPrimaryYesPrimaryLearner or intermediate license
FloridaYesPrimaryYesSecondaryNo
GeorgiaYesPrimaryYesPrimaryNo
HawaiiYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
IdahoNoN/AYesPrimaryNo
IllinoisYesPrimaryYesPrimary<19
IndianaNoN/AYesPrimary<21
IowaNoN/AYesPrimaryRestricted or intermediate license
KansasNoN/AYesPrimaryLearner or intermediate license
KentuckyNoN/AYesPrimary<18
LouisianaLearner or intermediate license in school zones onlyPrimaryYesPrimary<18
MaineYesPrimaryYesPrimaryLearner or intermediate license
MarylandYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
MassachusettsYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
MichiganNoN/AYesPrimaryLevel 1 or 2 License
MinnesotaYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18 or provisional license
MississippiNoN/AYesPrimaryNo
MissouriNoN/ANoN/ANo
MontanaNoN/ANoN/ANo
NebraskaNoN/AYesSecondary<18 w/ Learner or intermediate license
NevadaYesPrimaryYesPrimaryNo
New HampshireYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
New JerseyYesPrimaryYesPrimaryPermit or provisional license
New MexicoNoN/AYesPrimaryLearner or provisional license
New YorkYesPrimaryYesPrimaryNo
North CarolinaNoN/AYesPrimary<18
North DakotaNoN/AYesPrimary<18
OhioNoN/AYesSecondary<18
OklahomaLearner or intermediate license onlyPrimaryYesPrimaryNo
OregonYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
PennsylvaniaNoN/AYesPrimaryNo
Rhode IslandYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
South CarolinaNoN/AYesPrimaryNo
South DakotaNoN/AYesSecondaryLearner or Intermediate License
TennesseeYesPrimaryYesPrimaryLearner or Intermediate License
TexasIn school crossing zones and on public school property onlyPrimaryYesPrimary<18
UtahNoN/AYesPrimary<18
VermontYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18
VirginiaIn highway work zones onlyPrimaryYesPrimary<18
WashingtonYesPrimaryYesPrimaryLearner or intermediate license
West VirginiaYesPrimaryYesPrimary<18 w/ Learner or Intermediate License
WisconsinNoN/AYesPrimaryLearner or intermediate license
WyomingNoN/AYesPrimaryNo