What Drivers Need to Know
Pennsylvania has officially joined 28 other states in cracking down on distracted driving. Known as “Paul Miller’s Law,” the new hands-free legislation took effect on June 5, 2025 — and starting June 6, 2026, it comes with real consequences.
The Story Behind the Law
The law is named for Paul Miller Jr., a 21-year-old Scranton man who was killed on July 5, 2010, when a tractor-trailer driver reached for his cell phone while traveling on Route 33 in Monroe County. The truck crossed the center grass divider and struck Paul’s car head-on. He died from his injuries.
His mother, Eileen Miller, spent the next twelve years fighting for legislation that would prevent other families from suffering the same loss. After approaching then-State Representative Rosemary Brown at a community meeting, Eileen pushed the bill through six legislative sessions before Governor Josh Shapiro finally signed Senate Bill 37 on June 5, 2024 — making Pennsylvania the 29th state in the nation to enact a comprehensive hands-free driving law.
What the Law Does
Paul Miller’s Law makes it a primary offense to hold or use any handheld device while operating a vehicle in Pennsylvania. That’s an important distinction: police can pull you over solely for holding a phone, even if you’re not speeding or committing any other violation.
The ban covers calls, texting, emailing, browsing, social media, gaming, and video recording. Critically, it applies even when stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic. Hands-free technology such as Bluetooth, CarPlay, and voice-activated systems remain legal, and drivers may still use their phones to contact emergency services.
Enforcement Timeline
From June 5, 2025 through June 5, 2026, police are issuing written warnings only. Beginning June 6, 2026, violations carry a $50 fine plus court costs and fees — which could push the total to around $200. For non-commercial drivers, no points are added to the license and the violation won’t appear on the driving record. However, if a distracted driver causes a fatal crash, they can face up to an additional five years in prison under the law’s homicide-by-vehicle enhancement.
The Numbers Behind It
The data makes a strong case for the law. According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania recorded 9,950 distracted driving crashes in 2024, resulting in over 6,000 injuries and 49 deaths. In 2023, distracted driving crashes topped 11,200, actually exceeding alcohol-related crashes for the year. PennDOT has acknowledged that distracted driving data is likely underreported, as many drivers are reluctant to admit they were distracted at the time of a crash — meaning these figures represent a floor, not a ceiling.
Racial Profiling Safeguards
The law also includes a provision that has received less public attention but carries significant implications. Championed by the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, the law requires state police and municipal departments in towns of 5,000 or more to collect and publicly report data on traffic stops — including the driver’s race, ethnicity, gender, and age. The data will be published in an annual report. Supporters say the provision ensures that enforcement of the new law doesn’t come at the cost of increased racial profiling, while critics of expanded police stop powers see it as a necessary check on a law that gives officers broad new authority to initiate traffic stops.
Not Everyone Is on Board
Despite broad bipartisan support, the law has drawn criticism from multiple directions. Some opponents argue it represents government overreach. Others in the civil liberties space have raised concerns that giving police a new primary offense to initiate traffic stops could lead to pretextual stops — pulling someone over for a phone violation as a pretext for other enforcement activity.
Even Eileen Miller herself expressed mixed feelings. “This is not the best legislation,” she told NBC10. “I would have hoped for a complete ban… it kind of got watered down a little bit.” She remains supportive but would prefer drivers put their phones away entirely rather than simply switching to hands-free workarounds.
Bottom Line
If you’re driving in Pennsylvania, the phone goes down — or goes hands-free. The warning period ends next month. After June 6th, it costs you money.