New Ohio Distracted Driver Law in Effect

Live in Ohio? You’re going to want to know about the new Distracted Driver Law now in effect.

Effective April 2023, a new Distracted Driver Law is now in place for the state of Ohio.

From the Ohio Department of Public Safety:

As of April 4, 2023, it is illegal to use or hold a cell phone or electronic device in your hand, lap, or other parts of the body while driving on Ohio roads. If an officer sees a violation, they can pull you over.

Drivers over 18 years old can make or receive calls via hands-free devices, including:

• Speakerphone
• Earpiece
• Wireless headset
• Electronic watch
• Connecting phone to vehicle

In most cases, anything more than a single touch or swipe is against the law.

What about Bluetooth?

The new law allows drivers 18 and over to make or receive calls using Bluetooth as long as you aren’t mannually entering numbers or letters on your phone. “If you must physcally manipulate your device, you should pull over to a safe location and park your car before handling.”

What’s off limits?

• Dialing a phone number
• Sending a text message
• Video calls or FaceTime
• Browsing the Internet
• Updating social media
• Recording or streaming video
• Watching videos
• Playing games

Drivers can listen to audio streaming apps and use navigational equipment if they turn them on before getting on the road or use a single touch or swipe to activate, modify, or deactivate them.

Remember, drivers under the age of 18 are still restricted from using their devices in any way, including hands-free features.

Exceptions include: 

• Drivers reporting an emergency to law enforcement, a hospital, health care provider, fire department, or similar emergency entity.
• Drivers holding a phone to their ear only during phone conversations, if the call is started or stopped with a single touch or swipe.
• Drivers holding or using cell phones and other electronic devices while stopped at a traffic light or parked on a road or highway during an emergency or road closure.
• First responders (law enforcement, fire, EMS), using electronic devices as part of their official duties.
• Utility workers operating utility vehicles in certain emergency or outage situations.
• Licensed operators using an amateur radio.
• Commercial truck drivers using a mobile data terminal.

After the first 6-month grace period of the new law, enforcement can pull you over if they see you on your cellphone. The following fines will be issued moving forward:

FIRST OFFENSE: $150

SECOND OFFENSE: $250