Distraction and inattention are frequent causes of car accidents. The state enacted the Missouri hands-free driving law to address and mitigate this fact. Between 2017 and 2021, approximately 380 people lost their lives as a result of a distracted driver (Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety). With nearly 100 people in Missouri being killed each year in distracted driving-related accidents, this law offers hope to reduce that statistic. It is a step toward a safer driving experience for everyone.
Overview of Missouri’s Hands-Free Driving Law
Not wearing a seatbelt used to be a significant factor in motor vehicle deaths and injuries. However, since the enactment of the seat belt law, most drivers wear them, even though it is a secondary violation like the new hands-free law. The state expects drivers’ cell phone use to follow the same path toward reducing motor vehicle deaths, injuries, and property damage. In fact, according to Cambridge Mobile Telematic data, since the law’s enactment on August 28, 2023, cell phone use while driving has decreased by 5.1%. That 5% reduction translates to 1,000 fewer crashes, 660 fewer injuries, five lives saved, and $22 million less in economic damages during that time.
Many states have implemented laws like Missouri’s Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law, also known as distracted driving laws. Between August 23, 2023, and December 31, 2024, officers only issued warnings about the new law when stopping drivers for other traffic violations. Effective January 1, 2025, that grace period ended, and the state enforces the law with citations and fines.
How Does Missouri’s Distracted Driving Law Work?
How does the state enforce this new law? The hands-free law is a secondary offense. Officers can’t stop drivers solely for a violation of this law. They can’t pull drivers over for holding their cell phones while their car is moving, but they can add this violation to one or more others if it is a factor in a traffic stop. For example, suppose an officer pulls over a driver for running a red light, and they have also violated the hands-free law. The officer can issue a citation for this secondary offense in that case.
In Missouri, the hands-free driving law prohibits holding a cell phone or other electronic device to send or read texts and emails or browse the Internet while operating a motor vehicle. The law aims to reduce distracted driving and improve road safety for all motorists.
Key Points to Remember
- Drivers are allowed to use their phones with hands-free technology such as Bluetooth.
- Emergency calls are exempt from this law.
- Violating the hands-free driving law can result in fines and points added to your driving record.
All drivers in Missouri should become familiar with the new distracted driving law. By doing so, you drive safer and avoid potential penalties. Obeying the law will significantly improve road safety in Missouri.
Missouri Hands-Free Driving Law Penalties
Because it only takes a moment of distraction to cause a serious accident, this law focuses on discouraging people from using their phones while driving. Therefore, the state imposes the following penalties for violating the Missouri Hands-Free Driving Law:
- Fines: Violating Missouri’s hands-free driving law is an infraction that results in penalties of $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second violation in 2 years, and $500 for subsequent violations.
- If the violation occurs in designated work zones, causes property damage over $5,000, or causes serious injury, the violation becomes a misdemeanor, with a $500 fine.
- A violation of this law that results in death is a Class D felony.
- Points on License: Drivers may also have points added to their state DMV record for violating this law.
Can You Lose Your License for Violating the Missouri Hands-Free Law?
The state can suspend your license if a traffic offense results in a secondary violation of the hands-free driving law or for multiple violations of this law. For instance, if you already have points on your driving record, just one violation of this distracted driving law could result in exceeding your allowable points. Once that happens, a license suspension follows. (How to Reinstate Your Driver’s License)
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