- As of August 2019 - Police can stop anyone they see holding a phone while driving
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SOME COMMON QUESTIONS: What’s the penalty if I get caught? The penalty for violating the law is a $50 FINE for the first violation and a $275 FINE for subsequent violations. Can I pick up my phone to make a call while I’m at a stoplight? No: You are still technically operating a motor vehicle even while you’re stopped in traffic or at a red light. What about my GPS device? Can I use that? Yes, the bill does make an exception for GPS devices that are solely used for navigation purposes. But since scrolling is still prohibited, drivers should have their addresses punched in before the vehicle starts moving. What if I can make calls through my vehicle? Is that allowed? The bill does make an exception for devices that are affixed or physically integrated into a vehicle. Can I still listen to a podcast on my phone while driving? You’re still allowed to stream a podcast from your phone, but make sure you’ve opened up your podcast app, picked the one you want to listen to and press play before you start moving in the vehicle. Don’t go searching for the In the Dark podcast while your vehicle is moving. So, can I receive and send text messages as long as I’m not touching my phone? The bill does not specifically ban voice-to-texting, which are text messages that are read to you by your phone or software in your car. What about tucking the phone into a hijab or scarf wrapped around your head? No. Law enforcement has argued it’s not necessary because it won’t violate the law if the phone is in hands-free mode and if people are not handling the phone between conversations.