South Dakota's Laws on Texting and Using a Phone While Driving

South Dakota has distracted driving laws that generally prohibit texting, cell phone use, and other electronic device use while driving. This article covers the specifics of the law, including the penalties you'll face for a texting or cell phone ticket in South Dakota.

South Dakota's Distracted Driving Law

South Dakota has two distracted driving laws: one that generally applies to using an electronic device while driving and another that specifically addresses social media while driving.

South Dakota's Texting and Cell Phone Rules

South Dakota's distracted driving law simply states "no person may operate a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device." However, the law is more precisely defined by its exceptions. The electronic device use restriction doesn't apply to:

• law enforcement and emergency services personnel in the discharge of their official duties
• electronic device use for emergency purposes such as calling 9-1-1
• use of a GPS unit requiring no manual entry of data
• reading, selecting, or entering a number or name for the purpose of making a call, or
• use of an electronic device in hands-free modes.

(S.D. Codified Laws § 32-26-47.1.)

Penalties for Distracted Driving Tickets in South Dakota

Distracted driving violations are class 2 misdemeanors in South Dakota. For a violation, the driver will generally need to pay $178.50.