Starting June 6, Pennsylvania drivers caught using or touching their cell phones while driving will face a $50 fine under Paul Miller’s Law, the state’s distracted driving legislation.Warning period ends after one yearFor the past year, police officers issued written warnings to drivers violating the law, but enforcement will now include fines. “It should be a no-brainer not to do these behaviors,” said Fritzi Schreffler, a spokesperson for PennDOT. Law bans holding or touching phones while drivingThe law prohibits holding or touching a phone while driving, whether it is in your lap or hands.Phones can be used in a holder for navigation purposes but watching television shows or movies while driving is considered distracted driving and is not allowed. Police say cell phones contribute to serious crashesSgt. Tony Elliott of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police said, “Serious injury or fatal crashes, a good majority of those crashes, we’ve noticed that cell phones have either played a direct role or a contributing role.” Law named for victim of distracted driving crash Paul Miller’s Law was named after 21-year-old Paul Miller, who died in a distracted driving crash in 2010. Schreffler explained that Miller’s parents worked tirelessly to advocate for the law in honor of their son.”After that happened, his parents felt we needed to do something to make a change here. And so, his parents have fought for years, trying to get a law passed in honor of their son to keep other parents and other families from having to deal with the same tragedy,” Schreffler said. Law includes limited exemptionsThe law, enacted in 2024, carries a summary offense and a $50 fine. PennDOT noted two exemptions: law enforcement officers and drivers making emergency calls. “‘Oh my gosh, I got to call 911,’ and you call 911, you are not going to get a ticket for letting them know that something happened out there,” Schreffler said. While the law has been in effect for a year, police will begin issuing fines instead of warnings starting June 6.
Starting June 6, Pennsylvania drivers caught using or touching their cell phones while driving will face a $50 fine under Paul Miller’s Law, the state’s distracted driving legislation.
Warning period ends after one year
For the past year, police officers issued written warnings to drivers violating the law, but enforcement will now include fines.
“It should be a no-brainer not to do these behaviors,” said Fritzi Schreffler, a spokesperson for PennDOT.
Law bans holding or touching phones while driving
The law prohibits holding or touching a phone while driving, whether it is in your lap or hands.
Phones can be used in a holder for navigation purposes but watching television shows or movies while driving is considered distracted driving and is not allowed.
Police say cell phones contribute to serious crashes
Sgt. Tony Elliott of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police said, “Serious injury or fatal crashes, a good majority of those crashes, we’ve noticed that cell phones have either played a direct role or a contributing role.”
Law named for victim of distracted driving crash
Paul Miller’s Law was named after 21-year-old Paul Miller, who died in a distracted driving crash in 2010. Schreffler explained that Miller’s parents worked tirelessly to advocate for the law in honor of their son.
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Paul Miller
“After that happened, his parents felt we needed to do something to make a change here. And so, his parents have fought for years, trying to get a law passed in honor of their son to keep other parents and other families from having to deal with the same tragedy,” Schreffler said.
Law includes limited exemptions
The law, enacted in 2024, carries a summary offense and a $50 fine. PennDOT noted two exemptions: law enforcement officers and drivers making emergency calls.
“‘Oh my gosh, I got to call 911,’ and you call 911, you are not going to get a ticket for letting them know that something happened out there,” Schreffler said.
While the law has been in effect for a year, police will begin issuing fines instead of warnings starting June 6.