Starting January 1st, Idaho will transition from giving warnings to citations for using your phone will driving.
Idaho’s Hands Free Law went into effect in July, but there has been a grace period of no citations.
Even if you are at a red light, you can’t pick up your phone to check messages or make a call.
Three offenses could get your license suspended for 90 days, so use caution on the road.
The Idaho Transportation Department says “drivers in Idaho will only be able to use electronic devices in hands-free mode behind the wheel, including when stopped at a red light or stop sign. In other words, the new hands-free law makes holding a cell phone illegal while operating a vehicle.”
Other key components of the new law, via ITD:
– Drivers can only use electronic devices and mobile phones in hands-free mode, and are only permitted to touch devices to activate the hands-free mode.
– Drivers are not permitted to hold or support any electronic device/phone
– Activation of GPS, voice to text, and making or receiving calls is permitted with one-touch or voice command
– Handheld use is allowed only if the vehicle is both stationary and not located in a public travel lane
– Drivers are not allowed to touch a device for texting, emailing, apps, video, or internet use.
Between 2014 and 2018, there were 241 people killed in distracted driving crashes across the state and it is a contributing factor in about one out of every five crashes in Idaho, ITD says.
“Sadly, our troopers have come across crashes where the driver’s decision to use a mobile device while driving resulted in life or death consequences.” said Col. Willis. “Anyone who has seen, been involved in, or is tasked with responding to these crashes understands this law addresses safety for every single one of us who drives on our roadways.”
In 2012, the legislature passed a law that prohibited texting. This statute will be repealed once House Bill 614 takes effect July 1. The new law will preempt all local ordinances in relation to hands-free driving superseding cities who already have hands-free ordinances.
