<P> The laws regulating driving (or distracted driving) may be subject to primary enforcement or secondary enforcement by state, county or local authorities . All State - level cell phone use laws in the United States are of the primary enforcement type--meaning an officer may cite a driver for using a hand - held cell phone without any other traffic offense having taken place--except in some cases involving newer (or "novice"), drivers . In the case of secondary enforcement, a police officer may only stop or cite a driver for a cell phone use violation if the driver has committed another primary violation (such as speeding, failure to stop, etc .) at the same time . </P> <P> A federal transportation funding law passed in July 2012, known as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP - 21), provided $17.5 million in grants during fiscal year 2013 for states with primary enforcement laws against distracted driving, including laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving . States with secondary enforcement laws or no laws at all are ineligible to receive this grant funding . </P> <P> No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers . However, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands) prohibit all drivers from using hand - held cell phones while driving . 36 states and Washington, D.C. ban all cell phone use by newer drivers; while 19 states and Washington, D.C. prohibit any cell phone use by school bus drivers if children are present . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Total handheld device ban applied to: </Th> <Th> Any cell phone use by driver prohibited if: </Th> <Th> Bus driver use restriction (s) </Th> <Th> Texting & Internet Access </Th> <Th> </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alabama </Td> <Td> 16 and under, and 17 w / temporary license or if licensed under six months (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> texting prohibited (primary) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alaska </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> No restrictions on cell phone use </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arizona </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> texting prohibited </Td> <Td> none </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arkansas </Td> <Td> 18--20 years old (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (secondary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> texting prohibited (primary) </Td> <Td> Any cell phone use prohibited in school or construction zones (secondary violation). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> California </Td> <Td> All (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (secondary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited (primary) </Td> <Td> texting prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colorado </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> on learner's permit or under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> totally prohibited (primary) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Connecticut </Td> <Td> All (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delaware </Td> <Td> All (primary violation) </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Florida </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cell phone use allowed while operating a car as long as the sound goes through only one ear . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Georgia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Guam </Td> <Td> All (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hawaii </Td> <Td> All (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Statewide law entered into force July 2013; all counties had existing bans on cell phone use . Drivers 18 and older may use hands - free devices . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Idaho </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> No statewide laws enacted; authorities track "distractions" on accident reports . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Illinois </Td> <Td> All (primary violation) </Td> <Td> any driver under 19 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Any cell phone use prohibited in school or construction zones or within 500 feet of an emergency scene (primary violation). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indiana </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iowa </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> on restricted or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> totally prohibited (primary) </Td> <Td> July 1, 2017 updated the texting law to be enforced as a primary reason an officer can stop you . "Texting" is defined as: texting, internet browsing, playing games, and reading social media applications . <P> If proven you were "texting" during a traffic fatality, it is deemed a Class C felony, and you can be put into prison for up to 10 years . </P> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kansas </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kentucky </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Louisiana </Td> <Td> learner or intermediate license holder (regardless of age) (primary violation) </Td> <Td> 1st year of license (primary violation if under 18) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maine </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 w / learner or provisional license (secondary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maryland </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 w / restricted learner or intermediate license </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Massachusetts </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cell phone use allowed as long as one hand is on the wheel at all times . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michigan </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> level - 1 or level - 2 license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Minnesota </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 w / learner or provisional license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mississippi </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Missouri </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Montana </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> None . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nebraska </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 w / learner or intermediate license (secondary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nevada </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Hampshire </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> #(1st Offense) $100 Fine <Ol> <Li> (2nd Offense) $250 Fine . </Li> <Li> (3rd Offense) $500 Fine, + a 2 - year suspension of drivers license . </Li> </Ol> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Jersey </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> on permit or provisional license (primary violation). </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Mexico </Td> <Td> Local Option by Jurisdiction </Td> <Td> on learner or provisional license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New York </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Carolina </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> texting prohibited (Primary) Internet access okay </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Dakota </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ohio </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oklahoma </Td> <Td> learner or intermediate license holder (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oregon </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> $50 fine for texting while driving . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Puerto Rico </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rhode Island </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Carolina </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Authorities can impose fines and track "distractions" on accident reports under Contributing Factors . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Dakota </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (secondary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tennessee </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> texting prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Texas </Td> <Td> Driving through school zones </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> texting prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Utah </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Regulated under distracted driving laws . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vermont </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Virgin Islands </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Virginia </Td> <Td> under 18 (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 (secondary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> texting prohibited </Td> <Td> Use of phone for text or email by the driver whilst vehicle is operational on state roads is prohibited . An exception exists for using GPS, dialing a number to make a call, or reporting an emergency . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Texting prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> on learner permit (primary violation) </Td> <Td> totally prohibited </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Virginia </Td> <Td> all (primary violation) </Td> <Td> under 18 w / learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wisconsin </Td> <Td> Driving through construction zones </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wyoming </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> on learner or intermediate license (primary violation) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Is it illegal to talk on the phone and drive in california