Starting Today, Law Enforcement Can Issue Citations for Ohio’s Distracted Driving Law

Enforcement of Ohio’s new distracted driving law begins today. 

The State of Ohio’s distracted driving law went into effect in April and for the first six months, law enforcement issued warnings to drivers found in violation.

Starting today, law enforcement will have the authority to issue citations. 

The law designates the use of cell phones and other electronic communications devices while driving as a primary traffic offense for all drivers and allows law enforcement to immediately pull over a distracted driver upon witnessing a violation. 

Under the previous law, distracted driving was a primary offense only for juvenile drivers, preventing officers from stopping adult distracted drivers unless those drivers also committed a separate primary traffic violation, such as speeding or running a red light.