Pennsylvania Texting While Driving Ban Goes Into Effect Thursday (3/8/2012)

Beginning this Thursday, March 8, 2012, Pennsylvania's new law banning texting while driving will go into effect.  Under the new law, no reading or sending of emails while driving will be permitted either. 

However, drivers will be still allowed to talk on their handheld phones even after the new law is passed.  According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article (see Source below), this statewide law supercedes local ordinances that may ban the use of handheld phones in any capacity while driving.

In terms of the banned practices of texting and using email while driving, the law makes such practices a primary offense, meaning a police officer may pull a driver over for engaging in these acts alone.

Under the law, the offending party may be fined $50 but will not incur any points against their license.


Source:  Article: "Texting ban to start for drivers in Pa." by Amy Worden for The Philadelphia Inquirer (March 4, 2012).