Texting and Driving Laws and Fines by State

Texting is so common — it's the most widely-used appMind Blowing Statistics That Prove The Value Of Texting For Service Brands# Blog on smartphones today — that you may not even realize when you're doing it. Just because it's become an automatic activity, though, doesn't mean that texting requires no attention and focus. 

According to the NHTSA, texting and driving is the most dangerous distractionDistracted Driving Risky Driving on the roads today. Sending or reading a text can take your eyes off the road for up to five seconds — the equivalent of driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes shut.

For that reason, most states have now passed laws that ban texting and driving. Many have made all cell phone usage while driving illegal, and in many states, it is a primary offense. If caught, you could face any of the possible consequences:

• Monetary penalty/fine

• Having your license suspended

• Increased insurance costs

• Prison sentence, in the event of injuries/death

Handheld Cell Phone Use

The 24 states listed below, including Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, prohibit handheld cell phone use of any kind while you are driving. 

In these states, the violation is a primary office — that is, you can be cited for cell phone use alone, not in conjunction with another offense.

• Arizona

• California

• Connecticut 

• Delaware

• Georgia

• Hawaii

• Idaho

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Minnesota

• Nevada

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• New York

• Oregon

• Rhode Island

• Tennessee

• Texas (but only in school zones)

• Vermont

• Virginia

• Washington 

• West Virginia

All Cellphone Use

No state outright bans cellphone usage, but 37 statesDefault Files 2021 04 DistractedDrivingLawChart April21Edit3.pdf Sites restrict it in the case of novice drivers, and 23 states — including the District of Columbia — have banned cellphone usage by bus drivers. 

Texting and Driving

Missouri and Montana are the only states that currently allow texting and driving. Moreover, it is a primary offense in 47 of those 48 states that have banned this driving hazard. In the state of Nebraska, it is a secondary offense, meaning that you can be cited only in addition to another moving violation.

The Fines 

So, just how much will it cost you if you are pulled over for texting while driving? Texting and driving fines vary in every state, but let's take a look at some of the heftier fines below: 

• Oregon has the highest penalty for texting and driving, with a maximum fine of $1,000News 2019 11 04 Oregon Driving Laws Traffic Tickets 2500473001 Story for a single offense. That is roughly ten times the average fine for this offense. The fine is just monetary, though — you won't incur points on your license.

• Utah comes in second, with a fine of up to $750Rules Ucja Append C_fineba Docs Uniform_Fine_Schedule.pdf Resources for the first offense. In addition, you can have 50 points added to your license, and if 200 points accrue, you'll get your license suspended. 

• Illinois only slaps people who text and drive with an initial fine of $75Ilcs Fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K12 610.2 Legislation. However, texting and driving will cost you 10 points if you're under 19Pdf_publications Dsd_dc19.pdf Publications, and it only takes 15 points in the Prairie State to get your license suspended.

• Wisconsin also has a harsh monetary fine and also dishes outfour points on your licenseDocuments Dmv Shared Bds109.pdf Wisconsindot.gov for a first offense. That's a third of the way to a suspension.

Take the Pledge

You can't get around how dangerous texting and driving is. Even if the split-second you look away from the road doesn't cause the accident, other distractions — like a fight, getting upset with a message, or other emotions — can easily get in the way. 

And while you definitely want to avoid distracted driving, if you do get a ticket, you may be able to rehab your record with an I Drive Safely defensive driving courseNorth Carolina Defensive Driving. Our course may be able to keep points off your record — as well as educate you even more on the dangers of texting and driving.