Alabama

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law) effective 8/1/12

Note: Alabama defines novice drivers as those age 16 or 17 with an intermediate license less than 6 months

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Arizona

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for school bus drivers (Primary law)

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California

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: California defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Connecticut

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Connecticut defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 or with a learner's permit.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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District of Columbia

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary)

Note: D.C. defines novice drivers as those with a learner's permit.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Georgia

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Georgia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Hawaii

• No current bans for distracted driving

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Illinois

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
• Illinois bans the use of cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone

Note: Illinois defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 19.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Iowa

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary)

Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers with a restricted or intermediate license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Kentucky

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
• Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans

Note: Kentucky defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Maine

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers
• Maine has passed a law making it against the law to drive while distracted in the state

Note: Maine defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

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Massachusetts

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Massachusetts defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner's permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Minnesota

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Minnesota defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner's permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Missouri

• Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)

Note: Missouri defines novice drivers as drivers age 21 and under

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Nebraska

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law)

Note: Nebraska defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner's permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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New Hampshire

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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New Mexico

• Handheld ban for drivers with in state vehicles
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)

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North Carolina

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: North Carolina defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Ohio

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law) effective 8/30/2012
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law) effective 8/30/2012

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Oregon

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Oregon defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Pennsylvania

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

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South-Carolina

• South Carolina has a Distracted/Inattention attribute under Contributing Factors.

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Tennessee

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Tennessee defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner's permit or intermediate license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Utah

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
• Utah's law defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding) while distracted by use of a handheld cell phone or other activities not related to driving

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Virgin Islands

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the territory legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Washington

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Washington defines novice drivers as those with a learner's permit or in the intermediate state.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Wisconsin

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law) effective 11/1/12
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Alaska

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature ban on texting click here to be taken to another site.

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Arkansas

• Handheld ban for drivers age 18-20 years old (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Arkansas defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Colorado

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Colorado defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Delaware

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Delaware defines novice drivers as those with a learner's permit or intermediate license holders.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Florida

• Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans.

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Guam

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the territory legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Idaho

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law) effective 7/1/12
• Idaho has a "Distraction in/on Vehicle (List)" attribute as part of its Contributing Circumstances element, and officers are supposed to list the distractions in the narrative.

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Indiana

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Indiana defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

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Kansas

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Kansas defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner's permit or intermediate license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Louisiana

• Handheld ban for drivers with a learner's permit or intermediate license regardless of age
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law for drivers under 18)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
• Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans

Note: Louisiana defines novice drivers as those drivers within their 1st year of licensure

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Maryland

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Secondary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Secondary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Maryland defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 with a learner's permit or provisional license

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Michigan

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)
• In Michigan, teens with probationary licenses whose cell phone usage contributes to a traffic crash or ticket may not use a cell phone while driving

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Mississippi

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans

Note: Mississippi defines novice drivers as drivers with a learner's permit or provisional license

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Montana

• No current bans for distracted driving

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Nevada

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law) effective 1/1/12
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law) effective 1/1/12

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New Jersey

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: New Jersey defines novice drivers as those under the age of 21 with a GDL or a provisional license.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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New York

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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North Dakota

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: North Dakota defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Oklahoma

• Handheld ban for drivers with a learner's permit or intermediate license (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for drivers with a learner's permit or intermediate license (Primary Law)
• Preemption Law prohibits localities from enacting distracted driving bans

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Rhode Island

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Rhode Island defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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South Dakota

• No current distracted driving bans

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Texas

• Ban on all cell phone (handheld and Hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone (handheld and Hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Texas has banned the use of hand-held phones and texting in school zones

Note: In Texas bus driver laws pertain to bus drivers with passengers age 17 and under.
Novice drivers are defined as all drivers at the intermediate stage, first 12 months.

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Vermont

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

Note: Vermont defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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Virginia

• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for bus drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Secondary law; Primary law for bus drivers)

Note: Viriginia defines novice drivers as all drivers under the age of 18.

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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West Virginia

• Handheld ban for all drivers (Secondary law until 7/1/13) effective 7/1/12
• Ban on all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers (Primary law)
• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law) effective 7/1/12

Note: West Virginia defines novice drivers as all drivers with a learner's permit or intermediate license.

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Wyoming

• Ban on texting for all drivers (Primary law)

To view the state legislature click here to be taken to another site.

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