ARIZONA’S NEW CELL PHONE LAW – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Craig Knapp on July 25, 2019

ARIZONA’S NEW CELL PHONE LAW – WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

It was inevitable this day would come.  Like taxes and death, banning cell phone use while driving was a guarantee.  Far too many people operate their cell phone while driving, in turn, taking their eyes off the road.  Let’s be honest, we have all seen the studies that taking your eyes off the road, for even a half second, can cause a devastating accident.  Here is a mind-boggling statistic: an average of 3,000 people die and 450,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers.  Even more scary is that 10% of all drivers, who are 15 to 19 years of age involved in fatal crashes, were distracted when the accident occurred.  Sorry parents, but you need to take this crisis seriously along with the rest of us.

In this day and age of technology, Arizonans watched as most of the country passed laws against cell phone use while driving.  Still, as many of us drove to work, our kids extracurricular activity, or to a vacation destination, we saw people happily using their cell phone while driving.  These people are putting us all at RISK!

Recently, Arizona followed in the footsteps of the other 47 states and enacted a cell  phone ban.  The Arizona Legislature approved HB 2318, which bans handheld cellphone use while driving.  This will soon become A.R.S. § 28-914, entitled “Use of Portable Wireless Communication Device While Driving.”   However, one caveat is that this law does not go into effect until January 1, 2021.

Under the new law, you CANNOT use your cellphone to talk, text, type, surf the web, Facebook, or Tweet unless you can do so safely and hands-free.

WHAT YOU CAN’T DO while driving in Arizona:

• Holding a cellphone in any way while talking on the phone, including propping it up with a shoulder.
• Writing, sending, or reading any text-based communication including a text, instant message or email.
• Watching any kind of video or recording video.

WHAT YOU CAN DO while driving in Arizona:

• Swiping a phone screen to make or accept a phone call.
• Talking on the phone if using an earpiece, headphone device, or device worn on a wrist.
• Using voice-based communication, such as a talk-to-text function.
• Using a GPS system.
• Using a handheld cell phone while stopped at a traffic light or stop light.
• Using a handheld cell phone to call 911.

In addition to the above, there are now safe ways to make a call or send a text while on the road.  One of those ways was introduced by ADOT and encourages drivers in Phoenix and throughout Arizona, who want to use a cellphone, to find one of the state’s Safe Phone Zones.  These Safe Phone Zones are designated across the region with there being 14 Safe Phone Zones in all.  Each Safe Phone Zone is located at a highway rest area at the side of the road.

Please take the extra 5 minutes to use a Safe Phone Zone because the alternative is injury or death to you, a loved one, or somebody else’s loved one.  Don’t be that person!