Countries that ban cell phones while driving

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This page lists those countries that have banned the use of a cell phone when driving unless used with some form of hands-free kit.

Country Listing (USA in separate table at the bottom)

Country	Banned	Notes
Australia	Yes	Banned in all states - fines vary though.
Austria	Yes	Fines vary - up to US$22 per incident
Bahrain	Yes	Offenders face fines - possibly prison
Belgium	Yes	Phones can be used without a hands-free unit when the car is stationary - but not while in traffic (such as at traffic lights)
Brazil	Yes	Ban imposed Jan. 2001
Botswana	Being debated	The attorney general is drafting the legislation
Canada	Variable	Banned in Newfoundland (Dec2002) fines up to C$180 - Banned in Québec (Apr 2008) fines up to C$100.
Chile	Yes
China	Yes	Reported to be covered by general "good driving practice" legislation.
Czech Republic	Yes
Denmark	Yes	Ban imposed July 1998 - US$60 fine for infringements
Egypt	Yes	Fines of about US$100 per offence.
Finland	Yes	Ban imposed January 2003 - US$55 fine for infringements
France	Yes	Banned 2003, EUR40 fine per infraction
Germany	Yes	Ban imposed Feb. 2001 - usage allowed without a hands-free unit only when the engine is switched off. Fine of €40 per infraction
Greece	Yes
Hong Kong	Yes
Hungary	Yes	Not often implemented by the police
India - New Delhi	Yes	New Delhi - Ban extended to ban all use of cell phones when driving, including use with a hands-free unit - July 2001 Andhra Pradesh - Ban now enforced with prison sentences
Ireland	Yes	Banned, with a US$380 and/or up to 3 months imprisonment on a third offence. Handsfree kits allowed, although that is subject to review.
Isle of Man	Yes	Banned since July 2000
Israel	Yes
Italy	Yes	Fines of up to US$124 per infraction
Japan	Yes	Ban imposed Nov. 1999
Jersey	Yes	Ban imposed Feb. 1998
Jordan	Yes	Ban imposed Oct. 2001
Kenya	Yes	Ban imposed late 2001
Malaysia	Yes
Mexico	Partial	Ban in Mexico City
Netherlands	Yes	Fines up to €2,000 or two weeks in jail
New Zealand	Being debated	Under debate - consultation being sought from interested parties
Norway	Yes	Fines of over $600 per infraction
Pakistan	Partial	Banned in Islamabad
Philippines	Yes
Poland	Yes	Fine of PLN200 ($100) - can be higher if contested.
Portugal	Yes
Romania	Yes
Russia	Yes	Ban imposed by Prime Minister - March 2001
Singapore	Yes
Slovak Republic	Yes
Slovenia	Yes
South Africa	Yes
South Korea	Yes	Ban imposed July 2001 - US$47 fine + 15 points on the license.
Spain	Yes
Sweden	No
Switzerland	Yes
Taiwan	Yes	If the driver is using a reflective screen on the car, local privacy laws forbid stopping the car for violating the ban.
Thailand	Yes	Bill proposed in May 2000
Turkey	Yes
Turkmenistan	Yes	Signed into law with effect from May 1st 2003, by President Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy
UK	Yes	Banned from December 2003
Zimbabwe	Yes	Ban imposed in Sept 2001, announced via official news agency only though, so not confirmed

USA states breakdown

State	Banned?	Notes
Alabama	No
Alaska	No
Arkansas	Partial	School bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone. Ban on drivers under 18yrs proposed.
Arizona	Partial	A bill to introduce a ban was lost by a 4-3 vote in the Senate Transportation Committee. Bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone
California	Yes	Beginning July 1, 2008, violators face a US$20 fine for a first offense and a US$50 ticket for subsequent infractions. Law passed Sept 2007 bans all under-18s from using a phone at all, even with handsfree kit. Text messaging while driving (inc emails) banned with effect from Jan 1st 2009.
Colorado	No	Teens with restricted licenses are banned - but can only be stopped for another violation first
Connecticut	Yes	Banned with effect from Oct. 2005 - teens are also forbidden from using handsfree kits while moving
Delaware	No	A driver can already be prosecuted for "inattentive driving" - which can include using a cell phone. Studies into the issue have been requested
District of Columbia	Yes	Banned from July 2004
Florida	Partial	State Attorney General said that cities can set local regulations - July 2001. Overturned by Governor Bush..
Georgia	Partial	School bus drivers banned from using cell phones while driving.DeKalb County has fines when crashes can be attributed to driving while using a cellphone.
Hawaii	Partial	Banned in Oahu from 1st July - US$67 fine for first infraction.
Idaho	No
Illinois	Partial	School bus drivers are banned - Chicago and Gary City Council have passed local laws banning driving without a hands-free kit.
Indiana	No	Ban proposed by State Sen. Rose Antich Carr - Jan 2004
Iowa	Being debated
Kansas	No	Bill to introduce ban failed in 2000
Kentucky	No
Louisiana	Partial	Teenagers and new drivers are banned - all drivers banned from text messaging only.
Maine	Partial	Minors and those on learner driving licenses may not use a cell phone while driving
Maryland	No	Bill to ban dropped Feb. 2001. New proposal in the House, proposed by Delegates Arnick and Mandel
Massachusetts	Partial	Bill for most users pending - but bus drivers already banned. Drivers required to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel while holding a phone.
Michigan	No
Minnesota	Partial	Teenagers and provisional drivers are banned - $100 fine plus delays in license upgrades for offenders
Mississippi	No	Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban.
Missouri	No
Montana	No
Nebraska	No	Bill planned by State Sen. Jim Cudaback - Jan 2004
Nevada	No	State bill to introduce ban failed April 1999. Local bill in Clark County also blocked Nov. 2001. Nevada state passed bill banning local regulations, March 2003.
New Hampshire	Partial	Not explicitly banned, but you can be prosecuted if using a cellphone when involved in an driving accident.
New Jersey	Yes	Banned from 2004, updated from March 2008 - fine US$100. Bill extended June 2008 to include text messaging.
New Mexico	Partial	Being debated - local ban in the cities of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, and Las Vegas
New York	Yes	Ban effective from Nov. 2001
North Carolina	Being debated	Study into the effects of cell phone usage while driving being carried out.
North Dakota	Being debated	Bill proposed by Sen. Harvey Tallackson, D-Grafton, Feb 2005
Ohio	Partial	The City of Cleveland is discussing a ban. Ban in place in Brooklyn.
Oklahoma	No	Bill to introduce ban failed in May 1999. Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban.
Oregon	Partial	Ban applies to teenagers only.
Pennsylvania	Partial	Local cities have their own laws - state legislation pending
Rhode Island	No	Governor Almond rejected a ban - July 2001. School buses are banned from using a cell phone. Proposal for a ban being debated, April 2004.
South Carolina	Partial	Bill to ban holders of a beginner's permit, conditional or special restricted driver's license passed by House committee, April 2008
South Dakota	No
Tennessee	Partial	School buses are banned from using a cell phone
Texas	No	Senate Bill 154 proposed. If passed would come into effect from 2008. A previous attempt in 2005 failed
Utah	No	Bill to introduce ban failed March 1998. Highland city planning a ban - Feb 2005
Vermont	No
Virginia	Partial	Bill banning minors passed Jan 2005. Bill banning 16-17yr olds with conditional licenses passed March 2007
Washington	Yes	Ban imposed, to come into effect from July 2008. Driving while sending text messages separately banned with effect from Jan 1st 2008
West Virginia	No	Bill proposed in 1999, but never debated
Wisconsin	No	Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1998. Bill to ban younger drivers only being debated.
Wyoming	No	Bill proposed by Rep. Floyd Esquibel but not debated