If you drive around Pittsburgh, you’re going to want to put your phone down while driving. Paul Miller’s Law is now being enforced across Pennsylvania, changing what drivers can and cannot do with a phone behind the wheel.

After a one-year warning period, police can now issue citations to drivers who are holding or supporting a phone or other device while driving, even when a vehicle is stopped in traffic or at a red light, according to USA TODAY.

The law is named for Paul Miller Jr., a 21-year-old from Scranton who was killed when a truck driver reached for his phone and crashed into him. Lawmakers say the hands-free rule is aimed squarely at reducing crashes caused by distracted driving.

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Under the statute, drivers are prohibited from holding or supporting an “interactive mobile device” while operating a vehicle, which includes smartphones and other handheld electronics used for calls, texting, social media, navigation and apps. The restriction applies even when a car is stopped at a red light or in gridlocked traffic, but drivers can still use hands-free and voice-activated systems such as Bluetooth or in-vehicle controls.

For the first year after the law took effect, officers issued only written warnings, but that grace period has ended. Police can now stop a driver solely for having a phone in hand and issue a citation carrying a $50 base fine, which can rise to a few hundred dollars once court fees and other costs are added.

Local safety officials said the change is particularly significant in Pittsburgh, where city crash data show more than 3,300 crashes in 2025, including 380 involving distracted drivers and one fatal distracted-driving crash. Statewide, Pennsylvania recorded nearly 10,000 distracted-driving crashes and 49 deaths in 2024.

One of the easiest ways drivers can stay within the law is to treat their center console like a “no-phone zone” and keep any device mounted or out of their hands until they’re parked, according to safety experts. That still gives drivers access to navigation and calls through buttons on the wheel or dash without the split-second reach that can lead to a crash.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paul Miller’s Law aims to cut crashes and save lives