The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania State Police announced that drivers will face fines for using hand-held devices while driving beginning June 5, 2026. The announcement follows the signing of Paul Miller’s Law in 2024 by Governor Josh Shapiro, which prohibits the use of hand-held devices while operating a vehicle, even when stopped temporarily due to traffic or at a red light.
Under the new law, drivers convicted of using a hand-held device behind the wheel will be subject to a $50 fine plus court costs and other fees. The law allows exceptions for emergencies and permits hands-free technology for phone calls, GPS navigation, and music. Pennsylvania also enforces an existing texting-while-driving ban that prohibits sending, reading, or writing text-based communications while a vehicle is moving. Violators may also face charges such as Homicide by Vehicle or Aggravated Assault by Vehicle depending on circumstances.
“Your choices behind the wheel can change lives forever,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Distracted driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal. This National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we are asking all drivers to commit to putting the phone away while driving.”
“As the warning period for Paul Miller’s Law concludes, troopers will begin issuing citations to drivers using handheld devices behind the wheel,” said Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel George L. Bivens. “Distracted driving is dangerous and significantly increases the risk of crashes. Just a moment of inattention can lead to life-altering consequences. The PSP urges all motorists to put their phones down, stay focused, and help keep Pennsylvania’s roadways safe.”
The law is named after Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in Monroe County in 2010 when a distracted driver reached for their phone and caused a crash with a tractor trailer. Since then, his mother Eileen Miller has advocated nationally for stronger distracted driving laws. “Nearly 15 years ago, two Dunmore state troopers knocked on my door to tell me that my son was killed,” said Miller. “My son did everything right – he was killed by someone else’s unsafe choices behind the wheel. This law is for every family in Pennsylvania that doesn’t have to experience two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by distracted driving.”
According to PennDOT data from 2024, there were 9,950 crashes involving distracted drivers in Pennsylvania resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. Officials note that these figures may be underreported due to reluctance among drivers involved in crashes.
For more information about distracted driving laws and safety resources visit the official roster page.
