Texting And Driving Laws In Ohio
Ohio Drivers under 18 years old are prohibited from using a cell phone at all while driving, unless they need to contact emergency services. While drivers over the age of 18 are banned from texting but can make calls from cell phones from either a hands-free or handheld devices.
Like other states throughout the nation, Ohio has laws in place that make texting while driving illegal for all ages. To learn more about this law see ORC § 4511.204.
Penalties for Texting & Driving in OH
For motorists over the age of 18, texting laws are considered "secondary" laws. This means a police officer must see a driver commit another moving violation to pull the driver over and, if the individual is found texting, he or she can be cited for that in addition to the original charge.The fine for texting and driving for drivers over 18 is $150.
For novice drivers, the cell phone and texting law is a primary law, meaning that the driver may be pulled over by a police officer for the sole purpose of violating these laws. The fine of texting and driving for novice motorists is up to $300.
Injured in a Collision Caused by a Texting Driver?
Since texting while driving is illegal in Ohio, anyone who suffers an injury in a car accident caused by a texting driver can recover financial compensation because ignoring the state traffic laws is considered an act of negligence. It is imperative to obtain legal representation from an experienced lawyer.
Contact the team at Rourke & Blumenthal at (614) 321-3212 today to request a free case evaluation.