Restrictions on cell phone use while driving in the United States

Table columns:
State
Total handheld device ban applied to:
Any cell phone use by driver prohibited if:
Bus driver use restriction(s)
Texting & Internet Access
Comment

Table rows:
cells: Alabama
16 and under, and 17 w/ temporary license or if licensed under six months (primary violation)
texting prohibited (primary)[6]
cells: Alaska
totally prohibited
No restrictions on cell phone use
cells: Arizona
texting prohibited[6]
none[6]
cells: Arkansas
18–20 years old (primary violation)
under 18 (secondary violation)
totally prohibited
texting prohibited (primary)[6]
Any cell phone use prohibited in school or construction zones (secondary violation).
cells: California
All (primary violation)[7]
under 18 (secondary violation)
totally prohibited (primary)
texting prohibited[6]
cells: Colorado
on learner's permit or under 18 (primary violation)[7]
totally prohibited (primary)[6]
cells: Connecticut
All (primary violation)
under 18 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
cells: Delaware
All (primary violation)
on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)[7]
totally prohibited
cells: Florida
Cell phone use allowed while operating a car as long as the sound goes through only one ear.[7]
cells: Georgia
All Drivers (primary violation)
Under 18 (primary violation)
Driver totally prohibited unless used for routing communication
Driver totally prohibited, includes video
Driver Allowed to use hands free devices (specific ones) and voice to text with hands free devices and allowed to use permanent mounted GPS, Drivers are allowed to make emergency calls and report hazardous road conditions. Commercial Vehicle Drivers have limited use directly related to their work (GPS or Routing Communication) effective date 1 July 2018.
cells: Guam
All (primary violation)
cells: Hawaii
All (primary violation)[8]
under 18 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
Statewide law entered into force July 2013; all counties had existing bans on cell phone use. Drivers 18 and older may use hands-free devices.[8]
cells: Idaho
No statewide laws enacted; authorities track "distractions" on accident reports.
cells: Illinois
All (primary violation)
any driver under 19 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
Any cell phone use prohibited in school or construction zones or within 500 feet of an emergency scene (primary violation).[9]
cells: Indiana
under 21 (primary violation)
cells: Iowa
on restricted or intermediate license (primary violation)
totally prohibited (primary)
July 1, 2017 updated the texting law to be enforced as a primary reason an officer can stop you. "Texting" is defined as: texting, internet browsing, playing games, and reading social media applications.[10][11] If proven you were "texting" during a traffic fatality, it is deemed a Class C felony, and you can be put into prison for up to 10 years.[12][11]
cells: Kansas
on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
cells: Kentucky
under 18 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
cells: Louisiana
learner or intermediate license holder (regardless of age) (primary violation)
1st year of license (primary violation if under 18)
totally prohibited
cells: Maine
under 18 (primary violation)
under 18 w/ learner or provisional license (secondary violation)[7]
cells: Maryland
all (primary violation)[13]
under 18 w/ restricted learner or intermediate license[7]
cells: Massachusetts
under 18 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
Cell phone use allowed as long as one hand is on the wheel at all times.[7]
cells: Michigan
level-1 or level-2 license (primary violation)
cells: Minnesota
under 18 w/ learner or provisional license (primary violation)[7]
totally prohibited
cells: Mississippi
totally prohibited
cells: Missouri
cells: Montana
None.
cells: Nebraska
under 18 w/ learner or intermediate license (secondary violation)
cells: Nevada
all (primary violation)[14]
cells: New Hampshire
all (primary violation)
totally prohibited
# (1st Offense) $100 Fine (2nd Offense) $250 Fine. (3rd Offense) $500 Fine, + a 2-year suspension of drivers license.
cells: New Jersey
all (primary violation)[15]
on permit or provisional license (primary violation).[7]
totally prohibited
cells: New Mexico
Local Option by Jurisdiction[7]
on learner or provisional license (primary violation)
cells: New York
all (primary violation)[16]
cells: North Carolina
under 18 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
texting prohibited (Primary) Internet access okay
cells: North Dakota
under 18 (primary violation)
cells: Ohio
under 18 (primary violation)[17]
cells: Oklahoma
learner or intermediate license holder (primary violation)
totally prohibited
cells: Oregon
all (primary violation)
under 18 (primary violation)[7]
cells: Pennsylvania
$50 fine for texting while driving.[7]
cells: Puerto Rico
all (primary violation)
cells: Rhode Island
all (primary violation) 06/01/2018
under 18 (primary violation)[7]
totally prohibited
cells: South Carolina
Totally prohibited, but officers must ascertain that a driver is texting rather than using the phone for another purpose.[18]
Authorities can impose fines and track "distractions" on accident reports under Contributing Factors.
cells: South Dakota
on learner or intermediate license (secondary violation)
cells: Tennessee
on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)[7]
totally prohibited
texting prohibited [19]
cells: Texas
Driving through school zones
under 18 (primary violation)
totally prohibited
texting prohibited [20]
cells: Utah
under 18 (primary violation)
Regulated under distracted driving laws.[7]
cells: Vermont
all (primary violation)
under 18 (primary violation) [21]
cells: Virgin Islands
all (primary violation)
cells: Virginia
under 18 (primary violation)[7]
under 18 (secondary violation)[7]
totally prohibited
texting prohibited
Use of phone for text or email by the driver whilst vehicle is operational on state roads is prohibited. An exception exists for using GPS, dialing a number to make a call, or reporting an emergency.
cells: Washington
all (primary violation)[7]
on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
Texting prohibited
cells: Washington, D.C.
all (primary violation)
on learner permit (primary violation)[7]
totally prohibited
cells: West Virginia
all (primary violation)
under 18 w/ learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
cells: Wisconsin
Driving through construction zones
on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
cells: Wyoming
on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)[7]

Questions about this table:
originalText: is it legal to talk on the phone while driving in minnesota
answer: answerTexts: provisional license (primary violation)