Indiana's Cellphone-Use & Texting-While-Driving Laws

Indiana's distracted driving law generally bans texting-while-driving and places restrictions on talking on a cellphone for all drivers. This article discusses the specifics of what the law prohibits and the costs and other consequences of a violation.

Texting and Driving in Indiana

Indiana's texting restrictions differ depending on the driver's age.

Drivers Who Are at Least 21

Indiana's distracted driving law prohibits all motorists from texting and emailing while driving. Generally, the ban includes entering and reading text messages and email.

However, the texting and email ban doesn't apply to motorists using hands-free or voice-operated technology.

Drivers Who Are Under 21

For drivers who are younger than 21 years old, texting and emailing while driving is prohibited with no exceptions for hands-free or voice-operated technology.

Talking on the Phone While Driving

As with texting, Indiana's phone restrictions differ depending on the driver's age.

Drivers Who Are at Least 21

For most Indiana motorists, talking on a cellphone while driving is allowed so long as the motorist is using hands-free or voice-operated technology.

Drivers Who Are Under 21

Drivers who are younger than 21 years old, can't talk on the phone while driving regardless of whether they're using hands-free or voice-operated devices.

The only exception to this ban is for making 9-1-1 calls.

Fines for Texting and Phone Violations

Generally, a person who admits a violation (either by mailing a payment or appearing in court) is looking at a maximum $35.50 fine.

However, if you contest a violation and lose, the maximum fine amount depends on your record. If it's your first violation within a five-year period, the maximum fine is $35.50. But if you have one prior violation within the past five years, the maximum is $250.50. And if you‘ve been convicted of two or more violations within the past five years, you can be fined up to $500.

Points for Distracted Driving Tickets

A texting or cellphone violation will also add four demerit points to a motorist's driving record. Accumulating too many points can lead to license suspension. However, a driver can get a four-point credit by completing a driver safety program.

Other Possible Charges

Depending on the circumstances, a texting or cellphone violation could also result in a reckless driving conviction. And when one of these offenses involves the death of another person, reckless homicide (vehicular manslaughter) charges are a possibility.