Pennsylvania instituted a statewide ban in 2012 on texting while driving, making it illegal to use any portable wireless device to send or receive text messages, emails or other communications while operating a motor vehicle.

In 2017, “Daniel’s Law” was enacted, which adds serious criminal penalties for drivers whose texting at the wheel causes serious injuries or death.

The texting ban does not include the use of GPS or a system that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle.

The law also allows the use of hand-held devices when the vehicle is not in motion, as in while sitting at a red light or in a traffic jam.

In Pennsylvania, those cited for distracted driving can be charged with a summary offense that comes with a $50 fine plus court costs, a surcharge and other fees that can result in a cost of more than $100.

Under Daniel’s Law, violating a texting ban is a criminal offense that can result in a two-year jail sentence for accidents causing serious bodily injury and five years for causing a fatality while texting.