Which States Have Laws Against Texting and Driving?
Photo: Roman Pohorecki
Don’t text and drive. There’s no negotiation here. There’s no, “There’s no one around,” or “It’ll just take a second,” or “I can multi-task, it’s fine.” No more reasons and no more excuses. Texting and driving not only puts you at risk, but it endangers every other person on the road.
In case all of the research about distracted driving doesn’t scare you into stopping, maybe the law will. 47 states — plus the District of Columbia — have bans on texting and driving. Find out more about your state’s laws below.
[wptab name=”Primary Bans”]
States with Primary Texting and Driving Bans
In states with primary enforcement, police officers can pull you over simply for texting and driving. Texting and driving is, in and of itself, its own offense punishable by law.
The following states have primary-enforced texting and driving bans:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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[wptab name=”Secondary Bans”]
States with Secondary Texting and Driving Bans
In states with secondary enforcement, texting and driving is illegal and you can be ticketed. However, an officer can’t pull you over just for texting and driving; there has to be another traffic violation present.
The following states have secondary-enforced texting and driving bans:
- Florida
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- South Dakota
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[wptab name=”No Bans”]
States With No Texting and Driving Bans
The following states do not have a blanket ban on texting and driving:
- Arizona
- Missouri*
- Montana
*Drivers 21 and under are prohibited from texting and driving in the state of Missouri.
[/wptab]
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Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
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