House Bill 2318 allows these local laws to apply until December 31, 2020, although it replaces them in all cases where local law is not as strict as state law. As of January 1, 2021, any local cell phone laws or new laws that are still in effect will be null and void. To sum up some of the chatter we`ve heard online, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Arizona`s cell phone law. If you scratch your head and ask what Arizona`s cell phone law does and doesn`t do, you`re not alone. As with most new laws, there is usually a period of adjustment when the word comes out and law enforcement starts issuing warnings and quotes. This means that you can only claim to be ignorant of the law until the warning period expires. Starting in 2020, you can expect a quote for each violation. PHOENIX — About six months after Arizona`s new distracted driving law, authorities in the valley have released thousands of quotes about violations. It prohibits motorists from using a portable device such as a mobile phone while driving. Three months after the Arizona Department of Transportation launched its Distracted Drivers Terrify Me awareness campaign, which aims to reduce the number of people who behave distractingly while driving, awareness efforts are still strong.

Texting and driving in Arizona are illegal. However, the law allows you to dictate text via a hands-free kit and verbally listen to your messages. That said, it won`t look good if you cause an accident or death and your phone shows that you`ve responded to a message in the car. It`s best to avoid potential problems altogether and save your texts and emails when you get home. If it`s an emergency, move to a safe place before replying to your messages. It`s been illegal to use a cell phone while driving in Arizona since 2019, when a statewide law went into effect, but law enforcement was only allowed to issue warnings until January 1, 2021. As mentioned earlier, Arizona was one of the few recalcitrant to the introduction of cell phone regulations. Now that they`ve joined the majority of states that deal with cell phones while driving, the landscape across the country looks like this: Officers who stop drivers for violating this law can`t take possession of or inspect a cell phone.

Don`t fall into the trap of violating the TEXTING and Conduct Act. Be aware that TEXT MESSAGES can wait or rely on a hands-free system to answer calls. Depending on the severity of the violation, high fines or licence suspensions await you. Don`t be that driver and write this on your file. Williams pointed out that it`s best not to use a device while driving, but if drivers are to use one while driving, they need to make sure it`s in hands-free mode. 18 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using a mobile phone or electronic device while driving. Arizona drivers can now receive a ticket and fine if they use cell phones while driving.

House Bill 2318 was signed on April 22, 2019. You can read the full bill for all the details, but the basic idea is simple: Arizona drivers can`t use a cell phone or electronic device while driving. You can use hands-free kits like your car`s Bluetooth, an earphone, or the device`s hands-free kit, but as soon as you touch your phone, you`re breaking the law. Arizona previously had a law banning the use of cell phones, but had been vague about the capacity they could use in which cities. Now, in 2021, the Hands Off Act states that any use of mobile phones (with minimal exceptions) across the state violates the law that can be used while driving. SMS and driving ban also apply to GPS in the hand or scrolling on social media. Exceptions include the use of wireless settings. Bluetooth and hands-free technology still allow you to talk on the phone while your eyes are on the road and your hands are behind the wheel.

Headphones and earbuds are also tolerated as long as they don`t interfere with your ability to hear emergency sirens in traffic. Emergency calls that must be made while driving are also excluded. Any unnecessary extent to which you use your phone and not pay attention to the street is illegal. Starting Friday, officers who see drivers using their phones can quote them. Many states have enacted laws banning the use of a cell phone while driving, a simple but effective way to strongly remind drivers to put their phones away while driving. It took Arizona a while to follow the crowd, but in April 2019, the governor finally signed a bill that added Arizona to the list of states with cell phone laws. This means that anyone caught texting, talking or even holding a cell phone while driving a vehicle can be fined anywhere from $75 to $149 for an initial offence and between $150 and $250 for each subsequent offence. “It makes sense to pass a law like this when you look at how accidents happen when you use a cell phone,” said Marc Lamber, a personal injury attorney at Fennemore Craig.

21 states and the District of Columbia prohibit school bus drivers from using a cell phone while driving. When you use navigation, you can`t hold your phone or smart device in your hand. The only reason to grab your phone is in an emergency. The use of mobile phones is not the only factor that played a role in these accidents. Arizona has introduced car seat laws, alcohol restrictions, speed limits, but nothing to address growing concern about cell phone use while driving. Senate Bill 1141: Distracted drivingapps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/71689 “Once someone makes a mistake using a cell phone and causing an accident, you can`t ring that bell. It`s like a pebble falling into a pond. It has such a profound impact on the family, on the person, on your life. The new cell phone law was proposed after an incident in which a law enforcement officer was killed after being hit by a distracted driver who admitted to texting at the time the accident occurred. Arizona`s SMS and driving statistics show far too many similar incidents, and lawmakers have finally stepped on gas. While some cities had similar laws, the new statewide law will replace existing local or municipal laws. Traffic accidents and deaths caused by distracted drivers are a major problem in the United States, and while the lack of an innocent mind is sometimes to blame, using a cell phone while driving is usually the culprit.

SMS, make a call, check a map, change stations on Apple Music – they take all our eyes and thoughts off the road, even if it`s only for a few seconds. Distracted driving causes thousands of completely preventable accidents every year. In 2019, at least 10,491 drivers involved in accidents in Arizona were involved in distracted driving behavior. Road safety stakeholders believe that this number is actually much higher because distracted driving is not reported, as drivers often do not admit that they were distracted or died in the accident. Part of the goal of House Bill 2318 was to unify cell phone laws in Arizona. Before this law was signed, there were 27 Arizona communities with cell phone regulations in their books — a seriously confusing situation for Arizona drivers, especially visitors to the state. On January 1, you will no longer be allowed to use your phone while driving in the state of Arizona. In Arizona, it`s illegal to talk or text a cell phone while driving unless the device is hands-free. Arizona ended a decade of opposition to restrictions on cell phone use while driving when Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill banning keeping a phone behind the wheel. It is now the 48th state to ban texting and the 18th to ban the use of mobile phones while driving. In April 2019, Gov.

Doug Ducey signed a bill banning the use of portable mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets when driving a vehicle. It`s illegal for drivers to talk or text a device that isn`t hands-free on all Arizona roads. The law prohibits the use of any type of portable electronic devices while driving, however, a driver can use his mobile phone to report illegal activities or to call for help. A driver can also use his mobile phone when parking or at a red light. This law prohibits drivers from using a mobile phone or autonomous electronic device while driving, unless it is used in hands-free mode. These include mobile phones, tablets, music, and gaming devices, among others. He reminded drivers of the devastating consequences that can result from distracted driving.