During its recent session, the legislature voted to tighten restrictions on use of cellphones while driving. House Bill 519, the hands-free cellphone law, prohibits almost all handheld cellphone use while operating a motor vehicle. This law seeks to address the number of vehicle accidents due to distracted driving phone use. Unfortunately, here at The Law Firm of Eddie Clark & Associates, we see first-hand the physical and mental toll that crashes due to phone use while driving can take on victims.
Key Parts of the New Hands-Free Cellphone Law To Know
When the law goes into effect on August 1, 2025, the following will take place:
- Drivers will be prohibited from using cell phones and other personal digital assistants to make calls (without hands-free equipment such built in car systems), send or read text messages, access social media, view or create images, or, in general, hold said device while driving.
- Exceptions to handheld phone use will only be made in the case of reporting emergencies or using the device in an official emergency capacity.
- Drivers may use their phones with their hands when the vehicle is lawfully stopped.
Enforcement And Penalties
In a school or construction zone, law enforcement officers will be able to pull you over solely for holding a phone while driving. After a warning grace period that runs from August 1 to December 31, 2025, the fine will be $250 dollars. If involved in a wreck due to hand-held use of a cell phone in one of these areas, possibly significantly more than that. In other places, officers may fine you for handheld cell phone use, if pulling you over for another primary offense. Fine is $100, if involved in a wreck it will be higher.
Take Action Now
You can prevent yourself and others from incurring fines, embarrassment, and potential harm by spreading the word about the new law and adopting hand-free technology in your vehicle now. Only use the cellphone with your hands to make calls in Louisiana, and other activities as permissible, when you as the driver are Lawfully and Safely Stopped.
The hands-free cellphone law is aimed at helping reduce distracted driving on the road and hopefully bring down the number of traffic accidents due to this cause. If you’re ever involved in a crash where cellphone distraction by the other driver is a factor, be sure and reach out to us here at The Law Firm of Eddie Clark & Associates.
