Distracted Driving

Go Hands-Free. Just Drive. It's the Law.

In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a bill making it illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads. Under the law, a driver cannot hold or support a phone or other device with any part of their hands, arms, or shoulders.

Even if a cell phone or other device is mounted on your dashboard or connected to your vehicle’s built-in system, you cannot use your hands to operate it beyond a single touch.

As a result, you cannot manually do any of the following on a cell phone or other electronic device while driving:

Make or answer a telephone or video call.
Send or read a text or email message.
Watch, record, or send a video.
Access, read, or post to social media.
Browse or use the Internet.
Enter information into GPS or a navigation system.

Hands-free Law Guide

Hands-Free Law Enforcement Materials

April 2025 Enforcement Campaign:

What is Distracted Driving?

There are three main types of distraction:

Visual

Taking your eyes off the road.

Manual

Taking your hands off the wheel.

Cognitive

Taking your mind off the drive.

Texting is the most alarming distraction because it involves all three types of distraction.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes.

Penalties for distracted driving:

The law makes holding or manually using a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle a primary offense—which means an officer can stop and ticket drivers for this violation.

First Violation

$100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service.

Subsequent Violations

$250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service.

Three Violations Within a Three-year Period

Complete a driving-improvement course.

Fines Doubled

If a traffic crash occurs and the at-fault driver was holding or manually using a mobile device while operating the vehicle, any civil fines will be doubled.