Arizona Cell Phone Texting Law
Is it legal to drive in AZ and text in 2023? Ever wonder if talking on the phone or texting while driving in Arizona is illegal? Find out here!
AZ CELL PHONE & TEXTING LAWS 2023
- Beginning January 2021, the Arizona Hands-Off Law will make it illegal to use a stand-alone electronic device while driving, unless the device is in hands-free mode. Devices include cell phones, tablets, gaming, and music devices. Arizona’s new statewide ban replaces 26 different local ordinances.
A lapse of concentration while driving can be fatal to you and other drivers. Drivers typically deal with distractions like noisy passengers, glancing at maps, changing the radio station, etc. Cell phones have become an added distraction over the past 10-15 years and their growth in popularity has posed challenges for lawmakers. Law makes texting a primary offense, allowing officers to pull over drivers for texting and driving.
A person who breaks the Arizona texting while driving laws is subject to the following civil penalty
First violation: $75 - $149 fine.
Second or subsequent violation: $150 - $250 fine.
Those who violate this law could also face a criminal penalty of up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine for causing a crash that results in serious injury or death.
Cell Phone & Texting Laws in Arizona
There is no state-wide legislation preventing drivers from using cell phones and texting while driving in Arizona, particularly the Phoenix Valley.
Text messaging has been banned in 47 states while 16 states prohibit drivers from using cell phones when driving, however, hand-held assistance devices like Bluetooth hands free, and having your phone on speaker are widely considered fine options to get around these laws.
Team Auto Glass of Phoenix found that only certain categories of drivers in Arizona are targeted actively by these cell phone & texting laws:
School bus drivers are prohibited state-wide from using a cell phone or wireless device while operating a school bus.
On 30th June 2018, a no phones while driving law was passed barring drivers with learner's permits and provisional license holders from to using their cell phone use for the first six months after getting their full driving license.
Drivers aged under 18 can also be cited or fined if found using cell phones for any purpose while driving in Arizona, including G licenses and permits. These legal violations are secondary offenses, meaning the driver has been stopped first on a primary offense such as speeding.
Cell Phone & Texting Laws At City & County Level in Arizona
A number of Arizona cities and counties have begun passing their own distracted driving laws, meaning that drivers travelling through certain areas need to be mindful of local legislation. Places that have restrictions on cell phone use for drivers include:
- Phoenix - passed a law making it illegal to text while driving.
- Pima County - passed a law in 2017 outlawing any use of hand-held devices. This followed legislation that had already been put in place in one Pima city, Tucson, that prohibited texting while driving.
- Coconino County - became the first Arizona county to enact a law against hand-held phones in 2014. In addition to this, laws are also enforced in Coconino at local level in Flagstaff and Oro Valley.
Per the
Arizona Department of Public Safety, It is ILLEGAL to talk or text while on a cellphone while driving unless the device is in hands-free mode.
This may not stop your friends family, or peers from using their phones while driving, but Team Auto Glass is dedicated to making sure that you are protected while driving. That is why we offer windshield replacement cash back in Arizona, to incentivize safe driving and keep our roads safer for everyone.
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If you found this article helpful or just want more information on auto glass replacement using insurance, give us a call. A member of our team would be happy to discuss your options with you.
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