Cell Phone Legislation by State - Updated

This is the most updated information on cell phone bans and pending legislation by state, courtesy of Cellular News.

by Staff

December 22, 2005

State	Banned ?	Notes

National	Being debated	Bills being debated in the Federal government that will override local legislation

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	No	Bill to introduce ban failed Feb 1998 - car rental companies required to offer guidance on cell phone use. New study requested from Jan 2002 - but failed to move from the Assembly Transportation Committee.
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	Prtial	School bus drivers banned from using cellphones while driving
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
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 July 2004 - the fine is up to US$250
New Mexico	Partial	Being debated - local ban in the city of Santa Fe
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	Bill proposed for 2005 by Rodney Ellis and fellow Democrat Rep. Jose Menendez of San Antonio
Utah	No	Bill to introduce ban failed March 1998. Highland city planning a ban - Feb 2005
Vermont	No
Virginia	Partial	Bill failed in Dec. 1998 - but it only applied to school bus drivers. Passed a bill in Aug. 2001 to look for any impact on safety by the use of a cell phone while driving. Bill banning minors passed Jan 2005.
Washington	No	Bill to introduce ban failed Jan 2001. New laws proposed Q1 2005
West Virginia	No	Bill proposed in 1999, but never debated
Wisconsin	No	Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1998. Ball to ban younger drivers only being debated.
Wyoming	No	Bill proposed by Rep. Floyd Esquibel but not debated

Last update 3rd October 2005

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