ST. LOUIS — Missourians can be cited and fined for holding their cellphones while driving starting Jan. 1 under a state law.
The Siddens Bening Hands Free Law prohibits all drivers from manually typing, scrolling or holding a cellphone or another wireless device while operating their vehicles. This also includes watching, recording, posting, sending, or broadcasting a video or movie.
Under the state law, drivers can use hands-free features, including talk-to-text, Bluetooth or speaker functions to talk, send messages and use navigation.
Some exceptions include reporting emergencies.
This is a secondary law and drivers cannot be stopped solely for violating the hands-free law. However, if police see a driver speeding or serving with a phone in their hand, they can cite the driver.
The state law went into effect in August of 2023, when law enforcement could begin issuing warnings. Starting in the new year, drivers can be issued penalties.
A first-time violation will result in a fine of up to $150 and can increase up to $500 for repeat convictions within a two-year period.
Additional penalties can occur depending on the incident.
The law has associated misdemeanor and felony charges if a crash was determined to have been caused by a driver on their phone and it created significant damages, injuries or death.
The law is named after two Missourians who both died in car crashes.
Randall Siddens, 34, died after being struck by a driver who was video chatting on a cellphone and speeding.
Michael Bening, 46, was struck and killed by a suspected distracted driver while trying to retrieve debris in the roadway.
Last year, 106 people in Missouri were killed in distracted crashes, according to the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. Approximately 88% of distracted drivers in fatal crashes were older than 21.
States with a hands-free law have seen a 15% average decrease in fatality rates, according to the coalition.
For information on the hands-free law, visit the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety’s website.