May you use a handheld phone while driving, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 45 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 6 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 6 and 9 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 September and 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Notwithstanding other provisions of this title, a municipality may adopt an ordinance prohibiting the use of a cellular telephone by a person driving a motor vehicle while on school property or in an active school zone designated under the current edition of the Alaska Traffic Manual prepared by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. A municipal ordinance adopted under this section may not prohibit the hands-free use of a cellular telephone. | Alaska law, AS 28.01.017 | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Arizona | Apart from hands-free use, a wireless device may be used while driving only to report an emergency. | Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| California | Cell phones are the main source of distracted driving, and driving while using a handheld cell phone is unsafe and illegal. | California Driver’s Handbook, p.70 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Colorado | Colorado law prohibits drivers from using a mobile device while driving unless it is to contact law enforcement or the fire department, it is an emergency, or they are using a hands-free accessory. | Colorado Driver Handbook, p.18 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Connecticut | Hand-held cell phones and mobile electronic devices may not be used while driving on any public highway in Connecticut. | Connecticut Driver's Manual, p.13 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Delaware | Delaware bans hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving; a driver without a GDL who wants to talk on the phone must use a hands-free device, and a GDL driver may not use one at all. | Delaware Driver Manual, p.81 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| District of Columbia | In the District of Columbia you must be hands-free while driving with a cell phone. | DC Driver Manual, p.25 | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Florida | Florida prohibits using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner in a designated school crossing, school zone or work zone. | Official Florida Driver License Handbook, p.34 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Georgia | Georgia’s Hands Free Law says a driver may not hold or support a phone for any reason, and that a phone may only be used with headphones, a wireless device, a holder or a mounted device. | Georgia Driver's Manual, p.61 | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Illinois | Illinois law prohibits using a handheld cellphone, texting or other electronic communications while driving, and allows hands-free devices or Bluetooth for people aged 19 and older. | Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.22 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Indiana | Indiana law bars using a phone or other telecommunications device while driving unless it is hands-free or you are calling 911 in an emergency. | Indiana Driver's Manual, p.45 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Iowa | You cannot hold your phone in any way while driving. | Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.36 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kansas | Talking or dialing a phone number on a cell phone is not specifically illegal in Kansas, although anything that distracts from driving is dangerous. | Kansas Driving Handbook, p.19 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana law prohibits anyone from using any type of wireless device while driving unless it is hands free. | Class D & E Driver's Guide, p.78 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Maine | 1. Prohibition. A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a public way while using, manipulating, talking into or otherwise interacting with a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone, including but not limited to the use of a handheld electronic device or mobile telephone while the vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic light or a stop sign, unless: | Maine law, 29-A M.R.S. § 2121(1) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | It is illegal to use a hand-held cell phone, including texting, while driving. You may use a phone for calls hands-free. | Maryland Driver's Manual, p.35 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving is prohibited in Massachusetts. | Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.39 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Michigan | Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal in Michigan, including reading, texting, or making or answering a call. | What Every Driver Must Know, p.23 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Mississippi | Reading or posting to a social networking site using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving is not allowed. | Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p.23 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Missouri | While the vehicle is in motion, a driver may not physically hold or support a cellphone with any part of their body. | Missouri Driver Guide, p.93 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Montana | Most Montana cities have passed their own laws against texting and talking on cell phones while driving. | Montana Driver Manual, p.49 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nebraska | In Nebraska it is illegal to use a handheld wireless communication device to read, type, or send written communication while operating a motor vehicle. | Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.65 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nevada | Using a handheld cell phone for voice calls while driving is prohibited unless the device is used with a hands-free accessory. | Nevada Driver Handbook, p.43 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Under RSA 265:79-c no person driving a moving vehicle, or temporarily halted in traffic, may use a hand-held mobile electronic device capable of voice or data communication. | New Hampshire Driver's Manual, p.7 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey law prohibits the use of a handheld electronic device while driving on a public road. | New Jersey Driver Manual, p.85 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Mexico | A. A person shall not read or view a text message or manually type on a handheld mobile communication device for any purpose while driving a motor vehicle, except to summon medical or other emergency help or unless that device is an amateur radio and the driver holds a valid amateur radio operator license issued by the federal communications commission. | New Mexico law, NMSA 1978, § 66-7-374(A) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New York | In New York State it is a traffic infraction to speak into or listen to a hand-held mobile telephone while driving. | New York State Driver's Manual, p.52 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Carolina | (b) Offense. - Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person under the age of 18 years shall operate a motor vehicle on a public street or highway or public vehicular area while using a mobile telephone or any additional technology associated with a mobile telephone while the vehicle is in motion. This prohibition shall not apply to the use of a mobile telephone or additional technology in a stationary vehicle. | North Carolina law, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-137.3(b) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| North Dakota | In North Dakota, anyone driving on an instruction permit, of any age, and licensed drivers under 18 may not use electronic communication devices while driving, including to talk. | North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p.6 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | For drivers eighteen and over it is illegal in most cases to use, hold or physically support a phone or other wireless device while driving, and an officer who sees it may stop the vehicle for that alone. | Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.10 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oklahoma | In Oklahoma, a learner permit or intermediate license holder can be suspended or have the license canceled for using a hand-held electronic device while driving, unless it is a life-threatening emergency. | Oklahoma Driver Manual, p.61 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | Drivers 18 or older must use a hands-free accessory to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device, and the accessory must only require minimal use of a finger to activate or deactivate it. | 2026-2027 Oregon Driver Manual, p.80 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | (a) Motor vehicle.--Except as provided under subsection (b), no driver shall use an interactive mobile device while driving a motor vehicle. | Pennsylvania law, 75 Pa.C.S. § 3316.1(a) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Rhode Island | (b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall operate a motor vehicle while using a hand-held personal wireless communication device to engage in a call while such vehicle is in motion. | Rhode Island law, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-22-31(b) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| South Carolina | Under the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, you must not physically hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of your body while driving on a public road. | South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.36 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Dakota | No person may operate a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. This section does not apply to: | South Dakota law, SDCL § 32-26-47.1 | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Tennessee | Under Tennessee's hands-free law, it is illegal for a driver to hold a cellphone or mobile device with any part of their body. | Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.30 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Texas | It is against the law to read, write, or send messages on a cell phone or other portable wireless device while driving. | Texas Driver Handbook, p.54 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Utah | A Utah driver may not use a handheld wireless communication device while driving to write, send, or read a written communication, dial a number, access the internet, view or record video, take a photograph, or enter data. | Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.58 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Vermont | It is against the law for drivers to read or send messages while driving, and against the law to use a portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway in Vermont, including while the vehicle is stationary. | 2025 Vermont Driver's Manual, p.55 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Virginia | Virginia law bans holding a cell phone or any other wireless device while driving, except in an emergency or when the vehicle is lawfully parked or stopped. | Virginia Driver's Manual, p.24 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Washington | A driver in Washington may not hold any electronic device while driving, whatever their age or experience. | Washington State Driver Guide, p.85 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| West Virginia | (3) Make any communication involving a wireless telecommunications device, including a phone call, voice message, or one-way voice communication: Provided, That this prohibition does not apply to a voice operated or hands-free communication feature or function; | West Virginia law, W. Va. Code § 17C-14-15(e)(3) | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Wisconsin | An instruction permit or probationary license holder may use a phone while driving only to report an emergency. | Wisconsin Motorists' Handbook, p.6 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Wyoming | (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public street or highway while using a handheld electronic wireless communication device to write, send or read a text-based communication. This section shall not apply to a person who is using a handheld electronic wireless communication device: (i) While the vehicle is lawfully parked; (ii) To contact an emergency response vehicle; (iii) To write, read, select or enter a telephone number or name in an electronic wireless communications device for the purpose of making or receiving a telephone call; or (iv) When using voice operated or hands free technology. | Wyoming law, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-5-237(a) | 9 Oct 2026 |
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