States Where Talking On A Hand Held Cell Phone While Driving Is Illegal

Last night over dinner my wife Lisa asked me if I knew that it was now illegal to drive in Illinois while talking on a cell phone. I told her I was aware and that a hand held cell phone ban in Illinois went into effect on January 1st of this year. I have made several trips to California over the last 6 weeks and only recently learned that California also has a hand held cell phone ban and unfortunately, I learned that the hard way.... getting pulled over for being on my phone. The cop was cool and let me off with a warning because I was from out of state.

Indiana by the way, does not ban talking on a hand held cell phone, nor does Kentucky, but both states have a law against texting and driving as do most states.

Notice I said most state have a law prohibiting texting and driving, 44 in fact, which means six states have nothing on the books about texting and driving and those states are Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas, which is VERY surpising and scary.

Only 14 states have laws prohibiting talking on hand held cell phones and as stated above, Illinois is the only state in this Tri-State area with such a ban, but that will most likely change at some point in Indiana and Kentucky.

What is interesting is that no state bans all cell phone activity for all drivers, but 38 states and Washington D.C. do have an all cellphone use ban on novice drivers.

Distracted driving is one of the biggest problems on U.S. roadways today and as a result, tougher laws and restrictions will be enacted as time goes on. Click here for a complete list of which states where being on your phone is illegal and to what extent.