Your GPS is mounted on your dashboard, you’re stopped at a red light, and you reach over to adjust your route. Under California’s updated hands-free driving law, this simple action could now result in a traffic citation. A recent California Court of Appeal ruling has eliminated the gray areas that previously allowed drivers to hold their phones for navigation, even when stopped in traffic.
The California Court of Appeal for the sixth appellate district ruled that the state’s hands-free law prohibits drivers from holding their phones while driving, regardless of how they use the device. This decision clarifies existing legislation and removes previous ambiguity about what constitutes legal phone use behind the wheel.
What Changed with California’s Hands-Free Driving Law?
The California Court of Appeal for the sixth appellate district clarified how existing legislation should be interpreted in a recent ruling. The court’s decision in People v. Spriggs resolved confusion about what activities the hands-free law actually prohibited.
The Court Case that Changed Everything
The case involved a driver who was cited for holding a cellphone while using it for navigation. The driver argued that using a phone for GPS purposes didn’t violate the hands-free law since they weren’t making calls or texting. However, the appellate court disagreed, ruling that Vehicle Code Section 23123 prohibits all phone handling while driving, regardless of the specific function being used.
What the Court Decided
According to the court’s opinion, the original intent of California’s hands-free law was to eliminate distracted driving caused by phone use, not just to restrict calls and texting. The ruling specified that any physical handling of a mobile device while operating a vehicle violates the hands-free requirement.
This interpretation closes a loophole that many drivers had exploited, believing they could legally hold their phones for navigation, music selection, or other functions as long as they weren’t actively calling or texting. The court determined that the legislature’s intent was broader than these specific activities.
What Are the Hands-Free Law Violation Consequences?
Under the updated interpretation, drivers cannot hold a cellphone in their hand while operating a vehicle for any purpose. The hands-free law violation consequences now apply to a broader range of activities that drivers previously considered acceptable.
Specifically Prohibited Actions:
- Holding phones for GPS navigation or map viewing
- Picking up devices to change music or podcasts
- Taking photos or videos while driving
- Checking text messages or notifications
- Adjusting phone settings or applications
- Using phones for any function that requires physical contact
The prohibition applies whether the vehicle is in motion or temporarily stopped at traffic lights, stop signs, or in traffic jams. As long as the driver is operating the vehicle, holding a phone remains illegal. This removes the previous distinction some drivers made between moving traffic and stationary positions.
The law requires complete hands-free operation, meaning drivers must interact with their phones through voice commands, mounted accessories, or integrated vehicle systems.
What Are the California Distracted Driving Penalties?
The fine for a cell phone ticket in California has remained consistent, but the expanded scope of violations means more drivers may face citations. Understanding the California distracted driving penalty structure helps drivers recognize the financial impact of violations.
Fine Structure:
- First offense: $20 base fine (total typically $150–$170 with fees)
- Second and subsequent offenses: $50 base fine (total typically $250–$300 with fees)
- Additional assessments: State and local fees vary by county and court
The penalty structure includes potential points on the driver’s license for repeat offenses or violations that contribute to accidents. These points can affect insurance rates and may lead to license suspension for drivers who accumulate too many violations within a specific timeframe.
Drivers under 18 face stricter penalties, with any cellphone use while driving resulting in a citation. Young drivers cannot use phones even with hands-free devices, except in emergency situations.
When Is Cell Phone Use Legal While Driving in California?
The California vehicle code cell phone provisions allow limited exceptions for emergency situations where drivers need to contact police, fire departments, or medical services. These exceptions apply only when immediate safety concerns require phone use and no other communication method is available.
Permitted Uses:
- Emergency calls to 911 or other emergency services
- Phones mounted on dashboards or windshields (hands-free operation only)
- Voice-activated features and commands
- Single-touch activation when device is properly mounted
- Bluetooth headsets and speakerphone functions
Drivers may use phones mounted on their dashboards or windshields, provided they can operate the device without holding it. The mounting system must not obstruct the driver’s view of the road or interfere with vehicle operation.
How Does the Law Affect Distracted Driving Injury Claims?
Update
The appellate court’s clarification creates clearer liability standards for accidents involving cell phone use. When drivers violate the hands-free law and cause accidents, the violation can serve as evidence of negligence in personal injury cases.
The updated interpretation eliminates previous defenses where drivers claimed they were using their phones for navigation or other permitted purposes.
Impact
The change strengthens the legal position of accident victims who can now point to clearer statutory violations when seeking compensation for their injuries.
Insurance companies and courts can more easily establish fault when drivers violate the hands-free law, as the prohibition now covers all phone handling while driving. The clarity helps accident victims demonstrate that the other driver’s actions violated state law and contributed to the collision.
How Many People Are Killed by Distracted Driving in California?
National Data Highlights the Risk
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives in 2023. The agency calls texting the “most alarming distraction,” cautioning that sending a text at 55 mph is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
California Drivers Are Concerned
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reports that 148 people were killed in California in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2022. Mobile devices remain the biggest distraction for drivers, whether it is texting, taking pictures, emailing, or using apps. A 2024 OTS Public Opinion Survey found 73.5% of Californians identified distracted driving (texting or talking) as their biggest traffic safety concern on California roadways.
Study Compares Phone Use to Drunk Driving
A widely cited simulator study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah found that drivers using cell phones—whether handheld or hands-free—had reaction times and driving impairments comparable to those with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. Participants in the study showed delayed braking, slower speed recovery, and increased variability in following distance while using phones, matching or exceeding the impairments seen in legally intoxicated drivers.
What Should You Do If You’ve Been Injured by a Distracted Driver?
When drivers can no longer claim they were using their phones legally, accident victims gain stronger legal grounds for their injury claims. Working with a California traffic violation attorney who understands both sides of these cases can be beneficial for injury victims.
Steps to Take After an Accident:
- Document any evidence of cellphone use by the other driver
- Request police officers note potential phone use in their reports
- Gather witness statements about the other driver’s behavior before collision
- Take photos of the accident scene and any visible phone devices
- Seek immediate medical attention for injuries
Your distracted driving accident lawyer in California can subpoena phone records, analyze call logs, and work with accident reconstruction professionals to demonstrate how phone use contributed to the collision. Legal representation becomes especially important when dealing with insurance companies that may dispute claims about cellphone use.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Distracted Driving Accidents?
Drivers are wise to invest in proper phone mounting systems that allow voice activation and hands-free operation. These devices enable legal phone use while maintaining focus on driving responsibilities.
Best Practices for Compliance:
- Install dashboard or windshield phone mounts
- Set up voice commands before driving
- Program navigation systems while parked
- Use driving modes that limit distractions
- Keep phones out of reach to avoid temptation
Setting up voice commands and familiarizing yourself with hands-free features before driving helps avoid the temptation to handle phones while operating vehicles. Many smartphones offer driving modes that limit distractions and enable voice-only interactions.
Planning routes before departure and programming navigation systems while parked eliminates the need to adjust GPS settings during travel. This preparation reduces the likelihood of reaching for phones while driving.
Know Your Rights Under California’s Updated Law
California’s updated hands-free driving law creates clearer standards for legal phone operation and stronger protections for all road users. The appellate court’s ruling eliminates exceptions that previously allowed drivers to hold phones for navigation and other purposes.
For accident victims, this legal clarity provides stronger grounds for establishing negligence and securing compensation when distracted drivers cause injuries.
Penney & Associates Can Help
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, contact Penney & Associates today for a free consultation. Our experienced California distracted driving attorneys understand how the state’s hands-free driving laws affect your case and can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Read More:
Phone Use While Driving: A Leading Cause of Distraction
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