A law that prohibits using a hand-held device while driving will go into effect tomorrow.
The regulation is called “Paul Miller’s Law”, named for Paul Miller, Jr. who was killed in a crash with a tractor trailer in Monroe County in 2010. The cause of the crash was the driver of the tractor-trailer being distracted while reaching for his cell phone. Starting tomorrow, it will become illegal to use a hand-held device like a phone while driving, even while stopped at a red light or stop sign. Cell phones can still be used if alerting emergency responders or using hands-free technology for making calls, using the cell as a GPS or listening to music. The phone can also be used if the driver moves to the side of the road or off the highway and stops in a safe place before making a call or writing a text. Also as part of the bill, if a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.
For the next year, police will be issuing written warnings when people are caught violating the law. Citations will be issued starting in June of 2026, with a punishment of a $50 fine along with court costs and other applicable fees.
