DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — Don’t pick up that phone!
That’s the message police officers like LuAnna Brook are giving drivers.
“In 2022, there were over 3,300 deaths associated [with] distracted driving, and those are the only ones reported as distracted driving,” Brook said.
Officer Brook has been with the Lower Paxton Township Police Department for more than 20 years.
She’s seen firsthand how handheld technology has impacted driver concentration.
To help combat distracted driving, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Senate Bill 37 in May 2024.
The bill will make it illegal to drive and use a handheld smartphone, or other smart devices capable of instant messaging.
“For one year, we will be writing written warnings for any violations, and then come January of 2026, people will start being cited for these violations,” Brook said.
The law will go into effect in 12 months, and anyone cited for using a handheld device will have to pay a $50 fine.
According to the bill, police are expected to receive educational materials on how to effectively detect distracted drivers over the next few months.
“We’ll be looking for people to actually have phones in their hands doing something and we have a number of ways of doing that. We will more than likely be running details,” Brook said.
What can drivers do to avoid being pulled over?
“One suggestion that somebody said to me today that I think is good for people [who] don’t have access to the features in their vehicles - put that phone up in your visor and put it on speaker,” Brook said.
Drivers can also see if their phone connects to their car using a cable or Bluetooth; most cars today are built with the idea of going hands-free.
If a vehicle is not compatible with a handheld device, people can purchase items like phone mounts to avoid being pulled over.
Drivers will still be allowed to push a button on their phone to pick up or end phone calls.