The Law
It started with New York, then came New Jersey, DC and Chicago... who's next?
In 2001 New York was the first state to pass a law prohibiting
the use of a cell phone when driving - unless you are using
a
hands free device. In the period leading up to April 2004
the state had issued an amazing 269,230 tickets. At a
$100 a ticket that's an impressive $27m!
In the pursuit of
safety (and no doubt a few extra
dollars to bolster empty coffers), it was inevitable that
more states would follow, and in July 2004 New Jersey
and DC were next to adopt
similar laws and then the city of Chicago followed in July 2005. Nonetheless, the rest of the world is ahead of The United States in this regard; 45
other developed nations already have bans in place.
This
page helps keep you up to date with the latest
news regarding the law across the States.
Important:
do not use this resource as an interpretation of the law, we are hands free people, not lawyers.
States with cell phone laws |
States considering cell phone laws |
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HI
IO
LA
NC
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New York
Introduced: November 2001
Fine: up to $100
Excerpt of New York Law
New Jersey
Introduced: July 2004
Fine: up to $250
"New Jersey's ban on cell phone use by drivers goes into full effect Thursday, but police
still can't pull somebody over simply for chattering away while going down the
road. Motorists talking on hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel could be fined
up to $250, but only if they are stopped for another driving infraction." July 2004.
Full story at 1010Wins...
"... as of Thursday, drivers in New Jersey best beware if they're going to yak away on
a hand-held cell phone while driving. The new law requires people to use a hands-free
device if they're talking on a cell phone while driving." July 2004.
Full story at New Jersey News...
"New Jersey, starting Thursday, becomes the second state in the nation after New York
to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. A similar ban in Washington, D.C.,
dubbed the "distracted driving act," also goes into effect that day. July 2004
Full story at USA Today...
D.C.
Introduced: July 2004
Fine: up to $100
"Beginning July 1, a new District law will require O'Gilvie and thousands of other cell
phone users in the Washington area to use a hands-free device if they talk while driving
in the city. After a 31-day period during which drivers will receive warnings, violators will
be given tickets and fined $100 for each offense. July 2004.
Full story at Washington Post...
"Driving through the nation's capital is about to mean putting down your cell phone. Under a
law taking effect Thursday, drivers will be allowed to hold telephones only to make emergency
calls, begin calls or turn their phones on or off. Otherwise, they must use a handsfree device
if they want to talk on the phone while at the wheel." July 2004.
Full story at CNN...
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