Country

Banned

Notes

Australia

Yes

Banned in all states - fines vary though.

Austria

Yes

Fines vary - up to US$22 per incident

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 US$180

Chile

Yes

Czech Republic

Yes

Denmark

Yes

Ban imposed July 1998 - US$60 fine for infringements

Egypt

Yes

Fines of about US$100 per offence.

Finland

Being debated

Proposed and could be enacted by the middle of 2002

France

Being debated

No formal legislation, but legal action has shown that cell phone use while driving could be subject to prosecution if implicated in a crash

Germany

Yes

Ban imposed Feb. 2001 - usage allowed without a hands-free unit only when the engine is switched off.

Greece

Yes

Hong Kong

Yes

Hungary

Yes

Not often implemented by the police

India - New Delhi

Yes

Ban extended to ban all use of cell phones when driving, including use with a hands-free unit - July 2001

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

Netherlands

Yes

New Zealand

Being debated

Under debate - consultation being sought from interested parties

Norway

Yes

Fines of over $600 per infraction

Philippines

Yes

Poland

Yes

Fines can be as high as US$1,000

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

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

No formal ban - but is illegal to drive without "due care and attention" which can be used to bar driving with a cell phone - the government is consulting on a formal ban.

Zimbabwe

Yes

Ban imposed in Sept 2001, announced via official news agency only though, so not confirmed

State

Banned

Notes

National

Being debated

Bills being debated in the Federal government that will override local legislation

Arizona

No

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 cellphone

California

No

Bill to introduce ban failed Feb 1998 - car rental companies required to offer guidance on cell phone use. New study requested from Jan 2002 - but failed to move from the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Colorado

No

Bill to introduce ban failed Jan 2000

Connecticut

Being debated

Delaware

Being debated

A driver can already be prosecuted for "inattentive driving" - which can include using a cell phone

Florida

Variable

State Attorney General said that cities can set local regulations - July 2001. Overturned by Governor Bush..

Georgia

Being debated

Hawaii

Being debated

A bill has been introduced in Hawaii's legislature by Sen. Joseph Souki, D-Wailuku-Waiehu.

Illinois

Being debated

Bus drivers are banned - no other laws.

Indiana

Being debated

Iowa

Being debated

Kansas

No

Bill to introduce ban failed in 2000

Kentucky

Being debated

Maine

No

Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1999

Maryland

No

Bill to ban dropped Feb. 2001. New proposal in the House, proposed by Delegates Arnick and Mandel

Massachusetts

Variable

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

Being debated

Mississippi

No

Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban.

Missouri

Being debated

Nebraska

Being debated

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

Being debated

New Jersey

Variable

Police required to note if cellphone use considered a factor in a crash. Provisional Drivers are banned from using a cellphone. Bill proposed to ban use while driving in cars and school buses. Total ban proposed by Senator Lance.

New Mexico

Variable

Being debated

New York

Yes

Ban effective from Nov. 2001

Ohio

Variable

The City of Cleveland is discussing a ban

Oklahoma

No

Bill to introduce ban failed in May 1999. Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban.

Oregon

Being debated

A new bill enacted in Jan 2002 forbids the local governments from implementing their own cell phone ban. 

Pennsylvania

Variable

Local cities have their own laws - state legislation pending

Rhode Island

No

Governor Almond rejected a ban - July 2001

South Carolina

Being debated

Texas

Being debated

Utah

No

Bill to introduce ban failed March 1998

Vermont

No

Virginia

No

Bill failed in Dec. 1998 - but it only applied to school bus drivers. Passed a bill in Aug. 2001 to look for any impact on safety by the use of a cell phone while driving.

Washington

No

Bill to introduce ban failed Jan 2001

West Virginia

No

Bill proposed in 1999, but never debated

Wisconsin

No

Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1998

Wyoming

No

Bill proposed by Rep. Floyd Esquibel but not debated