Florida's "Hands-Free" Driving Bill to Ban All Handheld Phone Use

Florida lawmakers are back at it, trying once again to tackle distracted driving.

This week, State Senator Erin Grall from Vero Beach reintroduced Senate Bill 1152. Last time, the bill made it through the House but stalled out in the Senate. The main point’s pretty simple: if you’re driving, don’t touch your phone. No texting, no scrolling, not even flipping through your playlist. The bill doesn’t leave much wiggle room; if you’re holding your phone in your hand, wedging it between your shoulder and ear, or even propping it up with your arm, that counts as “handheld.”

There are a couple of carve-outs. If you’re parked, you’re fine. Emergencies? Sure, you can grab your phone to report a crash or suspicious activity. But just sitting at a stoplight doesn’t cut it.

Florida already bans texting while driving, but this new bill goes further. It basically says you can’t use your phone for anything while driving unless it’s totally hands-free. And if you get caught, the fines aren’t light. First offense in a school or work zone, you’re out $150. Three strikes, and you’re looking at $500 and a 90-day license suspension.

Supporters say this is long overdue and will actually make the roads safer. Critics, though, think it’s overkill and way too restrictive. Still, one thing’s clear—the fight over distracted driving laws in Florida isn’t going anywhere.