Hands-Free Driving Law Heads To Governor

Indiana is just the stroke of a pen away from becoming the 22nd state to ban cell phone use while driving unless hands-free.

The House and Senate overwhelmingly sent the bill to the governor Tuesday.

The bill says people can’t hold or use their cell phones while driving unless utilizing hands-free or voice-activated technology.

And while police can start issuing tickets for that this year, drivers who get those tickets won’t accrue “points” on their license. The more points people get – for things like speeding or running a stop light – can get their driver’s license suspended.

Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) says putting points on your license for violating the hands-free driving law won’t take effect until 2021.

“That allows the General Assembly and/or the points study committee then to come back and decide what the point values – if any – should be for illegal use of cell phone use while driving,” Sullivan says.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is expected to sign the bill.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.