Utah Cell Phone Laws

Utah Text Messaging Law

Utah Teen Cell Phone Legislation Moves Forward

Utah Senate Bill 113 - Wireless Telephone Use Restriction for Minors in Vehicles

This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code by amending provisions relating to driving by a person younger than 18 years of age.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill: prohibits a person younger than 18 years of age from using a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle.

Utah House Bill 290

The new Utah text messaging law modifies the current Motor Vehicles Code by adding a careless driving violation to an individual that:

"Uses A Handheld Wireless Communication Device For Text Messaging or Electronic Mail Communication While Operating a Moving Motor Vehicle"

This description was provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

"Prohibits a person from using a wireless communication device for text messaging or electronic mail communication while operating a motor vehicle, provides exceptions to the wireless communication device prohibition, provides that it is an infraction for violating the wireless communication device prohibition, provides that a violation of this section is not a reportable violation and points may not be assessed against a person for the violation."

House Bill 290 was signed by the governor on 3/25/2009 and goes into effect July 1st, 2009. You can read the new bill at the State of Utah Website >> House Bill 290

Utah Driving and Hands-Free Cell Phone Legislation

Utah does have a hands-free driving law however, the law is found under the definition of "Careless driving" and includes other behaviors that could cause driver distraction. Utah's Senate Bill 17 (SB17) specifically defines "Careless driving" as being "distracted" by "using a wireless telephone or other electronic device:". It is legal to use a cell-phone while you are driving only if the driver is using a device with hands-free " talking and listening features" while they are operating the motor vehicle.

This careless driving definition includes other common reasons for driver distraction that also constitute careless driving. So in addition to cell-phone use or other electronic devices the bill also specifies eating, drinking or smoking. You can also be sited for physically attending to a passenger, searching for an item in a vehicle and attending to personal hygiene or grooming. This annotates a previous law from 1959 that addresses being distracted by one or more activities not related to the operation of a motor vehicle.