Arizona Cell Phone & Texting Law & Information
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AZ CELL PHONE & TEXTING LAWS for 2019
Driving is an activity where focus is paramount and a lapse of concentration can be fatal. Drivers have always had to deal with a certain amount of distraction - 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. Arizona has relatively few cell phone and texting while driving laws compared to other US states; although a few laws have been enacted in recent years and more appear ready to emerge in 2019 as well.
Why cell phone and texting laws are needed
Cell phone use - either taking/making calls or sending texts - can be distracting to drivers and so states have begun to include it under their distracted driving legislation. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of road deaths. In 2016, the NHTSA reported that 3,450 people lost their lives due to distracted driving. A separate study in 2014 found that 26 percent of all car crashes in the US involved cell phone use.
If a driver is using a cell phone, their ability to focus on the road can be compromised. Looking at the screen of a phone means they are not looking at the road. Engaging in texting means that they are steering with only one hand as well as looking away from the road. This can mean less control over the vehicle as well as delayed reaction times.
However, cell phone use is on of the least restricted areas when it comes to distracted driving laws. Laws vary between states, with some states now banning use of hand-held phones for all. Most states also treat texting while driving differently from general cell phone use.
Cell phone and texting laws in AZ
Arizona, particularly the Phoenix Valley, has been slow to enact cell phone and texting laws compared to other states. There is no state-wide legislation preventing drivers from using hand-held phones and texting while driving has not been outlawed. Elsewhere in the US, text messaging has been banned in 47 states while 16 states prohibit drivers from using hand-held phones when driving.
SunTec Auto Glass of Phoenix has determined though that certain categories of drivers in Arizona are subject to these cell phone and texting laws at this current time:
School bus drivers are prohibited state-wide from using a cell phone or wireless device while operating a school bus.
Novice drivers (those with learner's permits and provisional license holders) will be banned from cell phone use for the first six months after getting their full driving license under new laws that come into effect on 30th June 2018.
Drivers aged under 18 will also be banned from using cell phones for any purpose as of 30th June 2018. This includes those who have instruction permits or class G licenses. However, violations will be treated as a secondary offense, which means that the authorities can only make a charge if the driver has been stopped first on a primary offense (e.g. speeding).
Although there are currently no general state-wide laws against cell phone use while driving in Arizona, drivers can still be charged for a distracted driving offense if they are caught driving dangerously or erratically while using a cell phone.
Cell phone and texting laws at city and county level
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.
For full details on cell phone and texting laws in your town, city or county, check your local area website or visit your town or city hall.
Penalties for distracted driving offenses
If you are caught breaking the law by using a cell phone while driving, it is likely that you will receive a punishment. Penalties handed out to drivers for using a cell phone or texting at the wheel can include any of the following:
- Fines - this is the most common penalty imposed at city and county level. Fines can range from $50 to $250, usually starting at $50-100 for a first offense and rising if subsequent violations are committed.
- License suspension - repeated violations, or distracted driving offenses that result in accident or injury, could lead to a suspension of driving license. For the state-level laws coming into effect on 30th June 2018, a third offense would mean a 30-day license suspension.
- Increased auto insurance costs - as with all other driving offenses, cautions for distracted driving can impact upon insurance rates.
- Imprisonment - if your distraction at the wheel causes an accident that results in death or serious injury, you could end up in jail.
Arizona's Safe Phone Zones
Drivers in Phoenix and throughout Arizona who want to use a cell phone or any other hand-held device are encouraged to find one of the state's Safe Phone Zones. These are areas designated across the region by the Arizona Department of Transport (ADOT) - in partnership with the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO). There are 14 Safe Phone Zones in all, each of them located at a highway rest area at the side of the road. Each zone is signposted well in advance, giving drivers ample time to make the necessary arrangements should they need to make an urgent call, send a text message or use the internet.
Another option for Phoenix, AZ drivers is to switch to a hands-free device. Although some states and counties have outlawed hand-held cell phones, no US state has banned all cell phone use for drivers and even states with the strictest laws permit phone use via head-set. This could be the easiest way of avoiding breaking the law and ending up with an expensive fine or worse.
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