Signed by Governor Jeff Landry

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that prohibits holding a cell phone while driving in Louisiana.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the act of holding a cell phone while driving in Louisiana (Sec. 1-2).

• Prohibits individuals from operating any motor vehicle upon any public road or highway while using a wireless telecommunications device to text or engage with social media sites (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies exceptions to the use of cell phones for phone calls (Sec. 1-2).

• expands the state’s laws to ban drivers from having cellular devices in their hands while operating a vehicle. Additionally, drivers cannot make phone calls unless they use a ‘hands-free’ method or intend to report an incident and/or emergency (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies that an offense is punishable by a $100 fine and requires that the fine rises to $250 if the offense takes place in a school zone or highway construction zone and the applicable fee is doubled if the offense occurs during a car crash (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-2).

• Requires law enforcement to only issue a warning for any violation occurring before January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits holding a cell phone while driving in Louisiana.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the act of holding a cell phone while driving in Louisiana (Sec. 1-2).

• Prohibits individuals from operating any motor vehicle upon any public road or highway while using a wireless telecommunications device to text or engage with social media sites (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies exceptions to the use of cell phones for phone calls (Sec. 1-2).

• expands the state’s laws to ban drivers from having cellular devices in their hands while operating a vehicle. Additionally, drivers cannot make phone calls unless they use a ‘hands-free’ method or intend to report an incident and/or emergency (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies that an offense is punishable by a $100 fine and requires that the fine rises to $250 if the offense takes place in a school zone or highway construction zone and the applicable fee is doubled if the offense occurs during a car crash (Sec. 1-2).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-2).

• Requires law enforcement to only issue a warning for any violation occurring before January 1, 2026 (Sec. 1-2).

Full Bill Text