SUMMARY

1. •5 states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Washington), the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands  have enacted jurisdiction-wide cell phone laws prohibiting driving while talking on handheld cell phones.
   

2. •With the exception of Washington State, these laws are all primary enforcement—an officer may ticket a driver for using a handheld cell phone while driving without any other traffic offense taking place.
   

3. •17 states and the District of Columbia have special cell phone driving laws for novice drivers.
   

4. •School bus drivers in 14 states and the District of Columbia are prohibited from all cell phone use when passengers are present, except for in emergencies.
   

5. •Washington and New Jersey are the only states to ban text messaging for all drivers, but other states are expected to follow suit.
   

6. •New Jersey has primary enforcement—an officer may ticket a driver for texting while driving without any other traffic offense taking place. Washington's law is secondarily enforced.
   

7. •No state completely bans all types of cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) while driving.
   

8. •Some states, such as Utah and New Hampshire, treat cell phone use as a larger distracted driving issue.