Pennsylvania police are set to start issuing warnings to drivers found using cellphones while driving. This action is in anticipation of Senate Bill 37, which will make it illegal to use a handheld device capable of sending messages while driving. The bill was passed by the State General Assembly and is expected to take effect a year from now.
"In 2022, there were over 3,300 deaths associated [with] distracted driving, and those are the only ones reported as distracted driving,” said Officer LuAnna Brook of the Lower Paxton Township Police Department.
Once the law is in effect, violators will be subject to a $50 fine. However, no points will be added to the driver's license. For the first year after the law goes into effect, law enforcement will only issue written warnings for violations.
The bill includes exemptions for using a phone exclusively as a GPS, making a call to 911, or using hands-free methods such as Apple CarPlay or a phone mount.
The law is part of a broader effort to combat distracted driving and improve road safety. Pennsylvania joins 26 other states in passing similar legislation.