Pennsylvania drivers who hold their mobile phones while driving could face a $50 fine from Friday, as the state begins enforcing Paul Miller's Law. The hands-free driving measure, which took effect in June 2025, initially carried only written warnings for a year. Now, police can stop drivers solely for using a handheld device, making it a primary offence.
The law prohibits holding or using an interactive mobile device—including smartphones, tablets, and portable computers—while operating a vehicle, even at a stoplight. Drivers are also banned from supporting a device with another body part, dialling or answering by pressing more than one button, or reaching for a device in a way that causes them to leave a seated, seat-belted position.
Violators face a $50 fine plus court costs and fees, though the offence does not add points to a non-commercial driver's record. Commercial drivers may have it recorded. Exceptions allow hands-free technology such as Bluetooth and voice commands, as well as emergency calls to police, fire departments, or other emergency services.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said: “This law is about saving lives, it’s not about citations.” The law is named after Paul Miller Jr., a 21-year-old killed in 2010 when a distracted truck driver reached for a phone. His mother, Eileen Miller, advocated for the law, which Governor Josh Shapiro signed in June 2024.
Miller said: “I don’t want any parent to ever have to go to a morgue to identify their child – like I did – because of something so preventable.” In 2024, Pennsylvania reported nearly 10,000 distracted-driving crashes, resulting in over 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities, according to PennDOT.
