What is the fine for texting while driving, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 21 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 30 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 7 and 9 October 2026; manuals fetched between 6 and 18 September 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | The fine for texting while driving is $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $75 for a third or later, and each offense puts a two-point violation on your record. | Alabama Driver Manual, p.32 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| District of Columbia | (a) The penalty for violating §§ 50-1731.03, 50-1731.04, or 50-1731.05 shall be a fine of $100; provided, that, for a violation of § 50-1731.04, the fine shall be suspended for a first time violator who, subsequent to the violation but prior to the imposition of a fine, provides proof of acquisition of a hands-free accessory of the type required by this chapter. The suspension shall not apply to violations related to texting. | District of Columbia law, D.C. Code § 50-1731.06(a) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Georgia | A first conviction under Georgia’s Hands Free Law carries 1 point and a fine of not more than $50, and both climb with each conviction after it. | Georgia Driver's Manual, p.62 | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Hawaii | (f) Every person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of $300 that shall be deposited into the state highway fund; provided that if a person violates this section while operating a motor vehicle in a school zone or construction area, as defined in section 291C-104, the fine shall be $400, which shall be paid to the director of finance pursuant to section 291C-171. | Hawaii law, Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291C-137(f) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Idaho | (4) A violation of this section shall be a moving violation and shall be an infraction punishable by a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for a first offense and one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for a second offense within a three (3) year period. For each subsequent offense within a three (3) year period, the offender shall be punished by a fine of three hundred dollars ($300). | Idaho law, Idaho Code § 49-1401A(4) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Iowa | (4) One thousand two hundred eighty-five dollars for speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour over the posted speed limit. j. Vehicle component parts records violations. For violations under section 321.95, the scheduled fine is seventy dollars. k. Actions against a person on a bicycle. For violations under section 321.281, the scheduled fine is three hundred twenty-five dollars. l. Use of electronic device while driving violations. For violations under section 321.276, the scheduled fine is one hundred dollars. m. Leaving scene of traffic accident. For violations under section 321.262, the scheduled fine is one hundred thirty-five dollars. n. Striking unattended vehicle. For violations under section 321.264, the scheduled fine is one hundred thirty-five dollars. | Iowa law, Iowa Code § 805.8A(14)(4) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Maine | A. A person who violates this section commits a traffic infraction for which a fine of not less than $250 may be adjudged. | Maine law, 29-A M.R.S. § 2119(3)(A) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | (d) A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $100 for a first offense, by a fine of $250 for a second offense and by a fine of $500 for a third or subsequent offense. In addition to any fines pursuant to this subsection, an operator who commits a second or subsequent offense under this section or section 8M shall be required to complete a program selected by the registrar of motor vehicles that encourages a change in driver behavior and attitude about distracted driving. Nothing in this subsection shall authorize the seizure or forfeiture of a hands-free mobile telephone or a mobile electronic device. | Massachusetts law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 13B(d) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Michigan | Drivers caught using a hand-held phone face a fine of $100 for a first offense and $250 for later violations. | What Every Driver Must Know, p.23 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Missouri | (2) For a conviction under this section where there is no prior conviction under this section within the preceding twenty-four months, the court shall impose a fine of up to one hundred fifty dollars. | Missouri law, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822(6)(2) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Nebraska | The fine for texting and driving in Nebraska is $200 to $500. | Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.64 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| New Mexico | Open container-first violation 66-8-138 25.00 Texting while driving- (1) first violation 66-7-374 25.00 (2) second and subsequent violation 50.00 Using a handheld mobile communication device while driving a commercial motor vehicle 66-7-375 (1) first violation 25.00 (2) second and subsequent violation 50.00 Improper use of travel lane 66-7-376 250.00. | New Mexico law, NMSA 1978, § 66-8-116(A) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New York | The penalty for a first texting offense is a fine of up to $200, a second offense within 18 months is a fine of up to $250, and a third or subsequent offense within 18 months is a fine of up to $450. | New York State Driver's Manual, p.52 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| North Carolina | (c) Penalty. - A violation of this section while operating a school bus, as defined in G.S. 20-137.4(a)(4), shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00). Any other violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) and the costs of court. No drivers license points or insurance surcharge shall be assessed as a result of a violation of this section. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not constitute negligence per se or contributory negligence per se by the operator in any action for the recovery of damages arising out of the operation, ownership, or maintenance of a vehicle. | North Carolina law, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-137.4A(c) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| North Dakota | In North Dakota, the penalty for texting while driving is a $100 fine. | North Dakota Noncommercial Driver License Manual, p.30 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Ohio | (1) The offender shall be fined, and is subject to a suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, as follows: (a) Except as provided in divisions (D)(1)(b), (c), (d), and (2) of this section, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not more than one hundred fifty dollars. (b) If, within two years of the violation, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one prior violation of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars. | Ohio law, Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.204(D)(1) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | The anti-texting law makes it a primary offense to send a text-based message on a wireless device while driving, and a conviction carries a $50 fine. | PA Driver's Manual, p.93 | 6 Sep 2026 |
| Rhode Island | A first offense for texting while driving carries a $100 fine. | Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.37 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | A first offense under the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act carries a $100 fine. | South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.36 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Utah | A Utah texting violation is a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $100, or a Class B misdemeanor where the driver inflicts bodily injury or has a previous violation. | Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.59 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| West Virginia | (1) For a first conviction with no prior conviction of and no plea of no contest accepted to a charge of violating this section within the previous 24-month period, as measured from the date of any prior conviction or plea, a fine of not more than $100; | West Virginia law, W. Va. Code § 17C-14-15(h)(1) | 9 Oct 2026 |
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