TOLEDO, Ohio — In 2023, drivers legally had to start putting their phones down as the Ohio distracted driving law went into effect.
Officers always discourage people from being on their phones while behind the wheel, but now you can get a ticket for it in Ohio and Michigan.
The distracted driving law in Ohio began enforcement on Oct. 5, 2023.
"The new law is working; we're seeing less distracted driving laws across the state and we do want that to continue," said Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Ryan Purpura.
From Oct. 5 to Dec. 31, OSHP issued 3,504 citations for distracted driving.
But how about when your vehicle is stopped? Can you legally use your phone while waiting at a stop light?
There is a list of exceptions for when it is legal to use your phone while behind the wheel:
- Drivers reporting an emergency to law enforcement, a hospital, health care provider, fire department or similar emergency entity.
- Drivers holding a phone to their ear only during phone conversations, if the call is started or stopped with a single touch or swipe.
- Drivers holding or using cell phones and other electronic devices while stopped at a traffic light or parked on a road or highway during an emergency or road closure.
- First responders (law enforcement, fire, EMS) using electronic devices as part of their official duties.
- Utility workers operating utility vehicles in certain emergency or outage situations.
- Licensed operators using an amateur radio.
- Commercial truck drivers using a mobile data terminal.
"You can't hold it or support it with any part of your body. You can't have it on speakerphone while holding your phone in front of your face," Purpura said. "You can have it in the cupholder next to you and you can have it on your lap."
According to the OSHP, the answer is yes, you can legally use your phone while stopped at a stop light.
If your car is stopped in traffic due to a crash, Purpura said you can also use your phone.
But if the light turns green while a driver is still looking at their phone and holds up traffic, that could fall under impeding traffic, he said.
You also cannot use your phone at a stop sign.