Pennsylvania's Distracted Driving Law

Known as Paul Miller’s Law, this law bans the use of hand-held devices while driving.

Effective June 5, 2025, the law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from using an interactive mobile device (IMD) while driving a motor vehicle.

The law:

• Defines an interactive mobile device as a handheld wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer, or similar device which can be used for voice communication, texting, emailing, browsing the Internet, instant messaging, playing games, taking or transmitting images, recording or broadcasting videos, creating or sharing social media or otherwise sending or receiving electronic data.
• Defines driving as operating a motor vehicle on a highway, including anytime the motor vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device (e.g., a traffic light or stop sign), or other momentary delay.
• Defines the use of an interactive mobile device as using at least one hand to hold, or supporting with another part of the body, an interactive mobile device, dialing or answering an interactive mobile device by pressing more than a single button, or reaching for an interactive mobile device that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt.

Penalties Under this Law

As a primary offense, drivers can be stopped by police if they have a mobile device in their hand while driving.

• For the first 12 months, the penalty is a written warning.
• Effective June 5, 2026, the penalty is a summary offense with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.
  • If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.

A driver may use an interactive mobile device if the driver moves the vehicle to the side of or off a highway and halts in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary. The hands-free law allows for an emergency use exception if it is necessary to communicate with a law enforcement official or other emergency service to prevent injury to persons or property.

Pennsylvania's Texting-While-Driving Ban

The law prohibits as a primary offense any driver from using an interactive mobile device to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion.

• Defines an interactive mobile device as a handheld wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer or similar device which can be used for voice communication, texting, emailing, browsing the Internet, instant messaging, playing games, taking or transmitting images, recording or broadcasting videos, creating or sharing social media or otherwise sending or receiving electronic data.
• Defines a text-based communication as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an interactive mobile device.
• Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.

Penalties Under this Law

• The penalty is a summary offense with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.
• The violation carries no points as a penalty and will not be recorded on the driver record for non-commercial drivers. It will be recorded on commercial drivers' records as a non-sanction violation.

The texting ban does NOT include the use of a GPS device, a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle, or a communications device that is affixed to a mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus. The law does not authorize the seizure of an interactive wireless device.

Distractions are Everywhere

Cell phones are not the only distraction while driving. You will not be able to react as quickly if you are driving distracted. Examples of distractions include:

• Eating, drinking and smoking. These all create safety problems because they often require you to take your hands off the wheel and take your eyes off the road. Drivers who eat or drink while driving have trouble controlling their vehicle, staying in their lane and have to brake more often.
• Adjusting the radio, cassette or CD player.
• Talking, texting or emailing on a cellphone or smartphone.
• Interacting with other passengers. This is particularly a problem for novice or teenage drivers. If you are a teen driver with other teens as passengers, statistics show you are more likely to have a crash than if you are driving alone or are driving with adult passengers.
• Searching for or moving an object in the vehicle.
• Reading or writing.
• Personal grooming (combing hair, applying makeup).
• Rubbernecking when passing a crash scene or a work zone.

• PennDOT Safety - Don't Drive Distracted