Pennsylvania’s distracted driving laws prohibit using handheld devices while driving, including texting, calling, browsing the internet, or any other interaction with mobile devices.
Effective June 5, 2025, Paul Miller’s Law makes it illegal to hold or physically operate any interactive wireless device while operating a vehicle on public roads, even when stopped at red lights or in traffic.
Violations result in a $50 fine plus court costs starting June 2026, though police will issue warnings during the first year.
Pennsylvania’s hands-free law expands beyond the existing texting ban to cover all handheld device use, with limited exceptions for emergency calls and properly mounted GPS systems.
The law applies to all drivers on public roadways throughout Pennsylvania, with specific provisions for commercial drivers and enhanced penalties when distracted driving results in serious injuries or death.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from safely operating your vehicle. This means anything that pulls your focus from the road, your hands from the wheel, or your mind from driving.
Pennsylvania recognizes three main types of distractions that can lead to accidents:
- Visual distractions: Taking your eyes off the road to look at something else
- Manual distractions: Removing your hands from the steering wheel
- Cognitive distractions: Letting your mind wander from the task of driving
Common examples of distracted driving include texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, using GPS, grooming, talking to passengers, or reaching for objects in your car.
Teen drivers face unique challenges with distracted driving due to their inexperience combined with the temptation of technology. Texting while driving is particularly dangerous because it combines all three types of distraction at once.
Pennsylvania has enacted specific laws to address the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, especially those involving handheld electronic devices.
What Is the PA Hands-Free Law?
Paul Miller’s Law is Pennsylvania’s comprehensive hands-free driving law that takes effect on June 5, 2025. This law makes it illegal to hold or physically interact with any handheld electronic device while driving.
Paul Miller’s Law is named afer a 21-year-old who was killed in 2010 by a distracted tractor-trailer driver, highlighting the deadly consequences when commercial vehicle operators take their attention off the road.
Under this law, you cannot hold, support, or use any part of your body to interact with a handheld device while your vehicle is in motion or temporarily stopped on a roadway.
The PA hands-free law applies whenever you are driving on any public road, highway, or street in Pennsylvania. This includes when you are stopped at red lights, stuck in traffic, or waiting at stop signs.
What Is the Pennsylvania Texting While Driving Law?
Pennsylvania had already banned texting while driving before the new hands-free law took effect. This older law specifically makes it illegal to send, read, or write text messages while your vehicle is in motion.
The PA texting and driving law was Pennsylvania’s first major step toward addressing distracted driving. However, this law only covered text-based communications and had some limitations in enforcement.
The new hands-free law expands far beyond just texting while driving in PA. While the texting ban remains in effect, Paul Miller’s Law creates much broader restrictions on all handheld device use.
Does the Law Apply at Red Lights and Traffic Stops?
Yes, Pennsylvania’s hands-free law applies even when you are stopped at red lights or in traffic. The law defines “driving” to include any time your vehicle is on a roadway, even if you are temporarily stopped.
This means you cannot use your handheld device when stopped for traffic lights, stop signs, traffic congestion, or any other temporary stops while on public roads. The PA law for cell phone use while driving considers you to be actively driving in these situations.
The only way to legally use a handheld device is to completely pull off the roadway and park in a safe location where your vehicle can remain stationary.
What Devices and Actions Are Covered?
Paul Miller’s Law covers a wide range of electronic devices and activities. The law is designed to prevent you from physically handling most electronic devices while driving.
Interactive Mobile Device Definition
An interactive mobile device includes almost any handheld electronic device you might use for communication or entertainment:
- Smartphones and basic cell phones
- Tablets, iPads, and similar devices
- Portable computers and laptops
- Gaming devices
- Any device capable of texting, emailing, internet browsing, or social media use
The law focuses on devices that require you to take your hands off the wheel and your attention away from driving.
One Button to Answer or End
You are allowed to press a single button to answer or end a phone call if your device is connected to a hands-free system. This means you can use Bluetooth technology or built-in vehicle systems to make calls without violating the law.
However, dialing numbers, scrolling through contacts, or pressing multiple buttons is still illegal. The device must be set up for hands-free use before you start driving.
Reaching for a Device and Mounting Rules
The law prohibits reaching for a device in any way that requires you to leave your normal seated driving position while wearing a seatbelt. You cannot lean over, reach into the backseat, or stretch to grab a device while driving.
For GPS navigation, you can use a mounted device as long as it is properly secured and you do not hold it in your hands. The device must be positioned where you can see it without significantly taking your eyes off the road.
Are Any Exceptions Allowed?
Pennsylvania’s hands-free law includes very limited exceptions for specific emergency situations and circumstances.
Emergency Calls to 911
You can use a handheld device to contact law enforcement, emergency services, fire departments, or other emergency responders. This exception ensures you can always call for help when someone’s safety is at risk.
The emergency exception applies only to genuine emergencies where immediate assistance is needed to prevent injury to people or property.
Pulled Off the Road and Fully Stopped
The hands-free law does not apply when you have completely moved your vehicle off the roadway and stopped in a safe location. This means parking in a parking lot, pulling into a driveway, or stopping on a wide shoulder where your vehicle is not impeding traffic.
Simply stopping on the side of a busy highway or pulling partially onto a shoulder does not qualify for this exception. Your vehicle must be safely and completely out of the flow of traffic.
GPS and Integrated Vehicle Systems
Built-in vehicle systems and properly integrated devices are allowed under the law. This includes factory-installed navigation systems, hands-free calling systems, and devices that are physically integrated into your vehicle’s dashboard.
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and similar systems that work through your vehicle’s built-in display are also permitted as long as you are not holding the phone itself.
What Are the Penalties and Points?
Pennsylvania will phase in enforcement of the distracted driving law to give drivers time to adjust their habits.
Written Warnings Through June 2026
From June 5, 2025, through June 4, 2026, police officers will issue written warnings instead of fines for violations. This 12-month warning period is intended to inform drivers about the new requirements and encourage the development of safer driving habits.
During the warning period, you will still receive a citation, but you will not have to pay a fine or face other penalties.
Fines and Court Costs After June 2026
Beginning June 5, 2026, violations will result in a $50 fine plus court costs and additional fees. If you are convicted of homicide by vehicle while also violating the distracted driving law, you could face up to five additional years in prison.
CDL and Commercial Driver Records
Regular drivers will not receive points on their driving record for hands-free law violations. However, commercial driver’s license holders will have the violation recorded on their driving record as a non-sanction violation.
This means CDL drivers may face additional consequences from their employers or insurance companies even though no points are assessed.
Is It Illegal to Eat or Groom While Driving in PA?
Eating while driving is not specifically illegal in Pennsylvania, but it can still result in citations if it affects your ability to drive safely. The same applies to grooming, adjusting your appearance, or other activities that take your attention away from driving.
If eating, applying makeup, or similar activities cause you to drive erratically, weave between lanes, or contribute to an accident, you can be cited for careless or reckless driving. Police officers also issue citations for tailgating and aggressive driving violations when these behaviors endanger others on the road. Police officers have discretion to determine when these activities create unsafe driving conditions.
When asking “is it illegal to eat and drive in PA,” the answer depends on whether your eating interferes with your ability to operate your vehicle safely.
How Distracted Driving Affects Fault and Insurance Claims
Distracted driving violations create serious legal consequences beyond just traffic tickets. These citations can serve as powerful evidence in personal injury cases and significantly impact insurance claims.
Does Phone Use Prove Negligence?
A citation for violating Pennsylvania’s hands-free law can help establish negligence in a civil lawsuit. When we represent clients injured by distracted drivers, these violations make it much easier to prove the other driver was at fault.
Courts often view distracted driving citations as clear evidence that a driver breached their duty to operate their vehicle safely. This can strengthen your case and improve your chances of recovering full compensation for your injuries.
Can Police or Lawyers Get Phone Records?
Police officers cannot seize your phone during a routine traffic stop for a hands-free law violation. However, your phone records can be subpoenaed as evidence in a personal injury lawsuit following an accident.
These records can reveal whether a driver was texting, calling, or using apps at the time of a crash. Phone records often provide crucial evidence that helps prove distracted driving caused an accident.
How Do Distracted Driving Citations Affect Insurance?
Distracted driving violations can have lasting effects on your auto insurance coverage and costs:
- Premium increases: Insurance companies consider distracted driving citations as indicators of high-risk behavior and often raise your rates accordingly
- Policy cancellation: Multiple violations or a pattern of risky driving may lead your insurance company to cancel your policy
- Coverage limitations: If you cause an accident while driving distracted, your insurance company may limit coverage for certain types of damages
Even a single violation can result in higher insurance premiums for several years.
What to Do After a Distracted Driving Crash
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, taking the right steps immediately after the crash can protect your health and legal rights.
Call 911 and Get Medical Care
Your first priority should always be getting medical attention, even if you feel fine initially. Some injuries, particularly soft tissue injuries and concussions, may not show symptoms immediately after an accident, which is especially common in drowsy driving and distracted driving accidents where impacts can occur at high speeds.
Call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical services. Having an official police report documenting the accident scene is also crucial for any future legal proceedings.
Document the Scene and Witnesses
If you are physically able and it is safe to do so, gather as much evidence as possible at the accident scene:
- Take photographs of all vehicles involved, showing damage from multiple angles
- Photograph the accident scene, including road conditions, traffic signals, and street signs
- Get contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident occur
- Write down or record your own account of what happened while the details are fresh in your memory
This evidence can be invaluable in proving the other driver was distracted and at fault for the accident.
Avoid Statements to Insurers
Be very careful when speaking with the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts and may try to get you to say something that reduces your claim’s value.
Avoid giving recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting with an attorney. You should report the accident to your own insurance company, but limit your statements to basic facts about what happened.
Call Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
Contacting an experienced personal injury attorney should be one of your first priorities after being injured by a distracted driver. Our team at Wilk Law immediately begins investigating distracted driving cases to preserve crucial evidence before it disappears.
We serve clients throughout Pennsylvania, including West Chester, Allentown, Philadelphia, Reading, Coatesville, and Pottstown. Our firm handles only personal injury cases, which means we have extensive experience dealing with distracted driving accidents and the complex legal issues they involve.
We protect our clients from predatory insurance company tactics and fight aggressively to secure the maximum compensation available under Pennsylvania law.
Skilled Distracted Driver Accident Lawyers in Pennsylvania
If you or someone you love has been injured by a distracted driver, you deserve justice and fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. At Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation or knowledge of the legal system.
We have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients and have a proven track record of holding negligent drivers accountable for their actions. Our approach combines compassionate counsel with aggressive advocacy to ensure our clients get the results they deserve.
Insurance companies often try to take advantage of accident victims by offering inadequate settlements or denying valid claims. We ensure that our clients are protected from these tactics and receive the full compensation they are entitled to under Pennsylvania law.
Contact Wilk Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers today to arrange your free consultation. We will review your case, explain your legal options, and help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use My Phone at a Red Light in Pennsylvania?
No, Pennsylvania’s hands-free law prohibits using handheld devices even when stopped at red lights or in traffic. The law applies whenever your vehicle is on a public roadway.
Is Apple CarPlay or Android Auto Legal Under the New Law?
Yes, integrated systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are permitted because they work through your vehicle’s built-in display and do not require you to hold your phone.
Do Commercial Drivers Get Points for Distracted Driving Violations?
No driver receives points for hands-free law violations, but CDL holders face stricter regulations and will have the violation recorded on their commercial driving record.
Can Police Take My Phone During a Traffic Stop?
Police cannot seize your phone for a hands-free law violation during a routine traffic stop. However, phone records can be obtained through legal subpoenas in accident cases.
What Is the Cinderella Rule in Pennsylvania?
The Cinderella Rule restricts junior license holders from driving between 11 PM and 5 AM, with exceptions for work, school, religious activities, or emergencies.
