Pennsylvania's New Texting and Driving Law - Effective 03/08/2012

Pennsylvania's new law prohibiting texting while driving takes efect at 12:01 am on Mar 3. The new law prohibits any driver from operating a vehicle while using an interactive wireless communications device to send, read or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion. The law does not prohibit selecting or entering a phone number for the purpose of activating or deactivating a voice-based communication or phone call.

An interactive wireless communications device is defined as a telephone, personal digital assistant, smart phone or portable or mobile computer or similar device which can be used for voice communication, texting, e-mailing, browsing the internet or instant messaging. The term does not include a device being used exclusively as a GPS or navigation system, a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle, or a communications device that is affixed to a mass transit vehicle, bus or school bus.

Violation of this law is a summary offense.

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