Michigan’s Long-Awaited Hands-Free Cell Phone Law Takes Effect June 30: Here’s What You Need to Know

At Mike Morse Law Firm, we’ve been supportive of cell phone safety legislation for quite some time. Our very first blog post – published all the way back in May 2010 – reported that then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm had just appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to sign Michigan’s pioneering law banning texting while driving. At the time, the state House of Representatives had passed the bill by an astonishing 82-22 vote. Now – 13 years later – Michigan is finally taking safety behind the wheel even more seriously by banning drivers from holding their cell phones when they’re on the road. The new law will be enforced statewide beginning at the end of this month. And we think you’ll agree with us that it’s about time.

If this common-sense, safety-focused law had been enacted earlier, perhaps some of the more than 214 people who have already died this year alone on Michigan’s highways would still be with us. Indeed, over the past decade, tens of thousands of innocent drivers and passengers who were killed or seriously injured in distracted-driving incidents may have been saved if a hands-free phone law had been previously put into effect. We firmly believe the new law will help save lives, which is why we give it our full support even though it might mean fewer personal injury cases will be tried in Michigan. Here’s everything you need to know about the recently approved legislation.

 
The New Law Is Designed to Keep all Michiganders Safer

Simply put, talking and texting while driving are deadly. Even merely holding a cell phone draws some of a driver’s attention away from the road. And that’s what this new law is all about – solving a truly frightening epidemic of distracted driving deaths and injuries by taking phones out of the hands of all drivers. Here’s proof: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that in 2021 deaths resulting from distracted driving increased 12 percent nationally. And here in Michigan, deaths caused by cell phone distractions have risen 88 percent during a recent five-year period. It just has to stop. Fortunately Michigan is joining the 25 other states which have already enacted hands-free cell phone laws to enhance the safety of everyone on the road.

But it wasn’t easy. While our state representatives and senators clearly took the danger posed by hand-held phones seriously, they didn’t act without giving the new law some very careful thought and consideration. Last year around this time, we reported that legislators in the House had approved a draft of the hands-free bill, and we predicted it wouldn’t be long before it passed the state Senate and would ultimately be signed into law by Governor Witmer. Although it took another full year to decide on the specifics of the law, what resulted was the passage of a bill that requires hands-free phone use essentially all of the time while driving (concessions allow a driver to hold their phones in emergency situations or when calling for law enforcement assistance).

Most of the time, using hands-free technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes it possible to dial numbers or set up navigation using voice commands without ever having to take your eyes off the road. Thanks to these technological advances, there’s no need – and truly no excuse – to ever touch your phone when you really should have both hands on the wheel.

What Happens if You Do Decide to Illegally Use Your Phone While Driving?

 
With all the convenient hands-free assistance that’s now available, it’s obvious that you shouldn’t have to pick up the phone at all when you’re in the car. But if you do choose to ignore the law and hold your phone, you’ll pay a price. First-time offenders will be fined $100 or compelled to perform 16 hours of community service. A second conviction will result in a $250 fine or 24 hours of community service. And if a collision occurs due to someone holding their phone while driving, those fines double. Additional violations could result in offending drivers having to take a driver improvement course, along with paying the required fines or undertaking the law’s mandatory community service requirements.

By the way, this is a primary offense, which means you can be ticketed if an officer observes you holding your phone for any reason, including setting up navigation apps, scrolling your social media feed, talking to friends, or texting family members. You don’t have to be speeding, drinking, or engaging in another dangerous driving activity to be pulled over for using the phone. Merely holding it is considered breaking the law. One smart way to be safe and to remove the temptation of picking up your phone is to make a habit of putting it into a quality mount or holder as soon as you get into the car. Another option is to place it out of sight, for example into your vehicle’s console or glovebox. Feel the need to make a call or check a message? Pull over and park before pulling the phone out of your chosen storage area! You could save someone else’s life – not to mention your own.

 
And What Happens if You’re Injured by Someone Who’s Breaking the New Law?

You can probably guess the answer to this question. We’re fully committed to helping you out should you find yourself in that terrible situation. If a scofflaw illegally holding a phone ever causes you or someone you love to be injured, you’ve got a faithful friend at Mike Morse Law Firm. (In fact, you have dozens of them!) We’ll do whatever it takes to help you be compensated for your injuries – whether you’ve incurred enormous medical bills, lost wages due to time away from your job, or had to seek costly rehabilitation services. Call us anytime day or night (remember — hands-free, while driving!) at 855-MIKE-WINS (855-645-3946) or get in touch with us online right here, right now.

Content checked by Mike Morse, personal injury attorney with Mike Morse Injury Law Firm. Mike Morse is the founder of Mike Morse Law Firm, the largest personal injury law firm in Michigan. Since being founded in 1995, Mike Morse Law Firm has grown to over 200 employees, served 40,000 clients, and collected more than $1.5 billion for victims of auto, truck and motorcycle accidents. The main office is in Southfield, MI but you can also find us in Detroit, Sterling Heights and many other locations.