This week, new distracted driving laws will go into effect in Ohio that allow police to pull drivers over for holding a phone in their hand or on their lap.
Starting April 4, 2023, a new law will go into effect making distracted driving a primary offense in Ohio. This means that law enforcement may pull drivers over solely for a distracted driving offense.
Under the new law, it is illegal to hold a cellphone in your lap, hand, or using other parts of the body, while driving on Ohio roads. If a police officer spots you, they are allowed to stop you.
For the next six months, law enforcement will provide warnings to drivers who violate the new distracted driving law. Starting on October 5, 2023, citations will be issued.
See penalties for violation of Ohio’s new law below.
Exceptions to the new law include:
The law does allow drivers who are 18 or older to to make or receive phone calls using “hands-free” technology such as Bluetooth or integrated systems within the vehicle, as long as you don’t hold or support the device or manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols. If you must physically touch the device to use it, you should pull off the road.