Credit: Alexandre Boucher (Unsplash)
A new state law bans the use of hand-held devices while operating a vehicle, even while stopped at a red light.
This legislation, known as Paul Miller’s Law, is effective as of June 5. It aims to prevent distracted driving, which occurs when an activity (such as texting, eating, or talking with passengers) diverts a driver’s attention from the road.
Paul Holdefer, Philadelphia’s Public Information Officer from the Pennsylvania State Police Department, explained how this law differs from pre-existing texting while driving bans.
“It basically means that you cannot have your phone in your hand unless you’re calling 911 for emergency purposes,” he said. “It’s a completely hands-free system now.”
Given the rise of smartphones, distracted driving has been on the incline in the U.S. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,275 people were killed in distraction-affected accidents in 2023.
The law is named to honor Paul Miller, a 21-year-old from Scranton who was killed in 2010 by a distracted driver. He was driving his car on Route 33 in Hamilton Township, PA, when a tractor-trailer crossed the center grass divider and hit Miller’s vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries. His mother, Eileen Woelkers Miller, has become an outspoken advocate against distracted driving ever since.
There are three key aspects to Paul Miller’s Law. The first is that it defines the devices in question as interactive mobile devices that can be used for texting, emailing, calling, browsing the Internet, playing games, or sharing social media.
Next, the law defines “driving” as operating a motor vehicle, even when temporarily stationary due to heavy traffic or a stoplight.
Lastly, by “use,” the legislation refers to having at least one hand holding the device, pressing more than a single button, or reaching for the device so as to maneuver away from a proper driving position. The only exceptions to the law will be for hands-free use, such as through Bluetooth, voice commands, or dashboard systems, as well as emergency calls.
Once Paul Miller’s Law goes into effect, drivers can be stopped by police if they are seen driving with a mobile device in their hand. For the first year, the penalty is a written warning. But after June 5, 2026, the penalty is a summary offense with a $50 fine, in addition to court costs and other fees.
“We can’t really forecast what people are going to do in the future,” Holdefer said. “We can just say that we will be looking for it.”
While keeping eyes on the road is a given to motorists, this law could have a profound effect on the way Pennsylvania residents drive. Many people say they avoid texting while driving, but consider how often drivers quickly change a song on the highway or check a notification at a red light.
A 2018 study found that young drivers touched their mobile phones while driving approximately 1.71 times per minute. For a 15-minute drive, that's about 25 times a driver could be pulled over by law enforcement for violating this law.
With the threat of a summary offense for merely having their hands on a mobile device, Pennsylvania drivers will have to adapt to the new norm.
“We can’t tell everybody that this is the way it’s going to be and everybody will just automatically follow,” Holdefer said. “Human nature is that people are creatures of habit, and they’ll still do the things that they want to do. But our goal is to make it as safe as possible to be on the roads of Pennsylvania.”
