Pennsylvania Distracted Driving Law Update: What Drivers Must Know
In the middle of driving, you might suddenly realize you are going the wrong way. You react quickly and end up making an illegal U-turn. Or you were distracted somehow. Either way, the police can write you a ticket.
Making an illegal turn while driving distracted is a traffic violation that leads to penalties. Besides adding a point to your driving record, it can lead to potential license suspensions and fines. However, since June 2025, there have been some changes made to Distracted Driving. Let us explore that in this blog and find out how a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer can help you.
Paul Miller’s Law
The state of Pennsylvania has taken a significant step in the improvement of road safety. A new Distracted Driving Law, called Paul Miller’s Law, has been introduced. This legislation is created to address the hazards of distracted driving by limiting handheld device usage while operating a vehicle.
The new legislation is named after a young man who tragically lost his life in a crash. A distracted driver was responsible for this action. Paul’s story became a symbol of power for advocates pushing for stricter regulations on making roads safer in PA. His memory pushed the stance against distracted driving. Thus, Paul Miller’s Law was devised to ban the use of handheld devices. It also aims to change driving behavior through enforcement and education.
How is Distracted Driving Defined?
Distracted driving encompasses any activity that diverts attention from driving. It can be visual, manual, or cognitive. The most familiar form of such driving is texting. However, the new law underlines several behaviors that can endanger you and others.
Distracted driving under the new law includes:
- Using your hand or body to hold or support a phone or other device
- Answering or dialing a phone with more than a single button
- Requiring to shift from the correct driving position to reach for a device
- Playing games, browsing the internet, watching videos, or checking social media
- Transmitting or taking videos or pictures while driving
- Composing, sending, or reading text messages or emails
It’s important to note that these restrictions apply when your vehicle is temporarily stationary. Even if you’re at the stop sign, red light, or stuck in a jam, this law considers every second behind the wheel part of the driving process. Therefore, your Pittsburgh criminal lawyer needs to prove it otherwise in court.
Exceptions to Paul Miller’s Law
While the law is severe, it includes a handful of critical exceptions:
- Emergency Use: You are allowed to use a mobile device if you need to contact emergency services to prevent damage or injury.
- Safely Pulled Over: If you’ve pulled your vehicle to a safe location and completely stopped, you can use your mobile device.
Moreover, when we mean mobile devices, certain devices are exempt:
- Navigation or GPS devices that are electronically or physically incorporated into the vehicle.
- Devices attached to a school or public bus, or any other mass transit vehicle.
- Systems that can be activated or answered with just one press of a button.
The law also states that the police have no authority to seize your device or phone during enforcement. If they do so, your Pittsburgh criminal lawyer has leverage to win your case.
The law might be at its nascent stage, but it’s still a traffic violation. If you find yourself being pulled over for a Distracted Driving offense, you need a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer. At Logue Law Group, our team of experts is ready to stand by you every step of the way. We will work with you to determine the best course of action. Reach out to us at sean@seanloguelaw.com.