Paul Miller's Law now in effect
- West Pikeland Township
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Effective June 5, 2026, Pennsylvania Police Officers will issue $50 fines plus court costs for Paul Miller’s Law. Paul Miller's Law in Pennsylvania prohibits drivers from using handheld devices while driving. This includes using a phone for calls, texts, emails, or any other interactive functionality while behind the wheel. This also includes while the vehicle is stationary at a traffic signal.
As a primary offense, drivers can be stopped by police if they have a mobile device in their hand while driving.
The law:
Defines an interactive mobile device as a handheld wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer, or similar device which can be used for voice communication, texting, emailing, browsing the Internet, instant messaging, playing games, taking or transmitting images, recording or broadcasting videos, creating or sharing social media or otherwise sending or receiving electronic data.
Defines driving as operating a motor vehicle on a highway, including anytime the motor vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device (e.g., a traffic light or stop sign), or other momentary delay.
Defines the use of an interactive mobile device as using at least one hand to hold, or supporting with another part of the body, an interactive mobile device, dialing or answering an interactive mobile device by pressing more than a single button, or reaching for an interactive mobile device that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt.
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.
The law is named after Paul Miller, who was tragically killed in a distracted driving accident in 2010.
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