If own a car in the American State of Pennsylvania, your days of having a cell phone in your hands or attached to your ear while driving are over. As from next month, starting June 5th, you may get pulled over by a police officer as a new law goes into effect, banning the use of handheld devices while driving all accross the state.
What is the context of this new law?
A major shift is coming to Pennsylvania’s roads. Pennsylvania’s Distracted Driving Law, also known as Paul Miller’s Law, follows 28 other states in banning the use of handheld devices while driving, after the passage and signing of Senate Bill 37.
This legislation was created in memory of a young man killed by distracted driving in 2010 — Paul Miller — and the law is expected to represent a significant step toward safer roads across the state.
As per the new legislation, drivers are prohibited to hold or use mobile devices while operating a vehicle. Stopped at red lights or in traffic? Doesn’t matter. Activities like texting, calling, emailing, browsing the internet, or scrolling through social media are strictly not allowed. The only exceptions are emergency 911 calls and using voice activated or Bluetooth connected devices.
Even interactions as simple as tapping the screen or resting the phone on their knee are considered a violation, attracting a warning. The law clearly states: any mobile device handling during driving is considered to be an infringement.
Data taken from 2020 through 2025 shows that more than 3,500 injuries were caused by distracted driving in Pennsylvania alone. This creates a clear need for the state’s legislation, which supports the US effort of addressing the rising issue of crashes caused by the matter.
Through the Paul Miller Law, Pennsylvania hopes to enhance safety on the roads while reducing the number of accidents arising from distracted driving. As drivers adapt to this change, the focus is still on promoting responsible driving practices.
Law Enforcement and Penalties
For nearly a decade, efforts to pass a hands-free driving law in Pennsylvania had remained worthless. Advocates such as Paul Miller’s parents, together with safety organizations and law enforcement, have fought to get legislative action that addresses the threats posed by cellphone usage while driving.
Their fight finally paid off when Governor Josh Shapiro, in early 2024, signed the bill into law. Following the law’s implementation, Pennsylvania now becomes the 29th state to enforce the ban on the use of mobile devices while driving, adapting to a growing national trend.
In order to provide time for drivers to adjust, Pennsylvania State will now impose a “grace period”:
- From June 5, 2025 to June 4, 2026: Officers will provide written warnings to offenders.
- From June 5, 2026 onward: Offenders will have to pay a $50 fine for the act.
To guarantee unbiased enforcement of officer discretion, the law contains a clause that requires police to capture and make available to the public the race and gender of drivers stopped for infractions. This provision seeks to track and help control any possible bias during law enforcement across the state.
Following the Rules in Your Car
The following actions help to ensure compliance while maintaining safety and avoiding getting tickets:
- Use a mount and position the device to eye level if the GPS is to be used, so that the hands fre controlled unit is way within easy reach.
- Link your mobile phone to the car hands free speaking set for easier calls to be made.
- Turn on the Do Not Disturb While Driving mode on your device.
- Set the destination and music to play prior to departure.
- Do not check any messages while driving.
The law applies when the driver is a commercial driver or a ridesharing driver. Any exceptions will be explained explicitly within guidance documents from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot).
