Be Aware of Cellphone and Texting Laws

Are you aware of the cellphone and texting laws?  They vary from state to state and it is your responsibility to know the laws in the states that you travel. Different rules apply to novice drivers and bus drivers as well.

Talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving is banned in the following 10 states, as well as the District of Columbia:  

• California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia

The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 32 states and the District of Columbia.  The states that do not restrict novice drivers are:  

• Alaska, Arizona,  Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,  South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

The use of all cellphones while driving a school bus is prohibited in the following 19 states, as well as the District of Columbia:

• Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 39 states and the District of Columbia, with 5 more states having partial texting bans.  The 6 states that have yet to place any restrictions on texting are:

• Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Montana, South Carolina, and South Dakota

Novice drivers are banned from texting in the following 5 states:

• Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

School bus drivers are banned from text messaging in the following 3 states:

• Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas

Stay informed of the changes in the laws regarding cell phone use and texting.  These laws are always changing and are put in place to make our roads safer.  Truck Services of North America supports all efforts to keep our roads safe and to inform you of the laws so you can avoid penalties, fines and possible license suspensions.