Can I text at a red light in Delaware?: Why the answer is more vague than you think

Can I text when stopped at a red light in Pennsylvania?

No, the Pennsylvania law defines driving as operating a motor vehicle on a highway, including anytime the vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device or other momentary delay such as a traffic backup. 

What are the penalties for using a cellphone while driving in PA?

• Prior to the law going into effect, the penalty is a written warning. 
• Starting June 6, the penalty is a summary offense with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.
• The law does not authorize the seizure of an interactive wireless device.
• The violation carries no points against your license and it is not recorded on the driver’s record for noncommercial drivers. It will be recorded on a commercial driver’s record as a non-sanction violation.
• If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.

When can you use a mobile device in the car in Pennsylvania?

• A driver may use an interactive mobile device if the driver moves the vehicle to the side of or off a highway and halts in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary
• The hands-free law allows for an emergency use exception if it is necessary to communicate with a law enforcement official or other emergency service to prevent injury to persons or property. 
• The texting ban does not include the use of a GPS device or a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle, or a communications device that is affixed to a mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus.

Who is the new law in PA named for?

Paul Miller Jr., 21,  was killed in a head-on motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer in 2010 in Monroe County as the result of a distracted driver who reached for their phone while driving. He was a junior at East Stroudsburg University where he was majoring in sociology. 

After his death, his mother, Eileen Miller, has become a national advocate for stronger laws to curb distracted driving. In 2024, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the law prohibiting the use of hand-held devices while driving, making Pennsylvania the 29th state to ban distracted driving. 

Delaware driving laws: Can you use a cellphone while driving in Delaware?

Can you use a cellphone while driving in Delaware?

No, it is illegal for drivers to use any hand-held devices while driving in Delaware — and has been for over a decade.  

This ban not only includes cellphones and smartphones, but also laptops, portable computers and tablets.  

Drivers are also barred from reading, writing or sending text messages or emails; using the internet; or talking without a hands-free device at the ready while operating a vehicle. 

Is there a fine for using a cellphone while driving in Delaware?

Any motorist caught using any hand-held device while driving will be fined $100 for their first offense. Any subsequent offense will result in a fine between $200 and $300.