Under 18? Drivers Banned from Using Mobile Devices
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Effective today, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to use any mobile communications device while driving in Ohio (LEARN MORE). This means no texting, emailing, cellular phone calls, video games, iPad/tablet or use of a handheld GPS while driving, even when sitting at a light or stuck in a traffic jam.
There is a six-month period during which law enforcement officers will issue warnings but not citations, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles officials say. After March 1, enforcement begins.
Using a mobile communications device while driving constitutes a primary offense, which means seeing a violation is the only reason police need to pull a driver over. Those found guilty of a first violation face a $150 fine and driver license suspension for 60 days. A second violation will result in a $300 fine and license suspension for one year. Exceptions include pre-programmed GPS or emergency calls to police, ambulance or fire department.
The law prohibits adults from writing, sending or reading a text-based message while behind the wheel of a car. For any person 18 and older, this is a secondary offense and a minor misdemeanor.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.