What to know before Paul Miller’s Law takes effect on June 5
Drivers holding their cellphones should expect to be pulled over after a new law kicks in Thursday, June 5.
Paul Miller’s Law will ban the use of any interactive mobile device while driving, including when stopped at traffic lights and in traffic. It supplements Pennsylvania’s texting and driving law passed in 2012.
The state will join 31 others and the District of Columbia to ban using an electronic handheld device while driving. Drivers must use hands-free technology or pull off the road to use their phone legally, unless they are using it to contact emergency services.
Law enforcement will issue a warning for violations during the law’s first year then charge a $50 fine for the summary offense. The law encompasses supporting the device with any part of the body, pressing more than one button to operate the device and reaching for a device in a way that removes the driver from their seated position.
Additional charges could be imposed if crashes occur in conjunction with breaking Paul Miller’s Law. An aggravated assault by vehicle charge could result in two years confinement, and a homicide by vehicle charge could result in five years confinement.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration recognized using a cellphone when driving is a habit-forming behavior and recommends activating “do not disturb,” silencing notifications or putting the phone out of reach when driving, assigning a passenger as the “designated texter” or pulling off the road before using the device.
The law also requires law enforcement to collect the driver’s race, ethnicity, gender, age and list details on whether a search was conducted in every traffic stop in an effort to prevent bias in policing.
A failure to collect data does not affect the validity of the traffic stop, according to the law. Local police will submit annual reports to state police to compile statewide reports.
The law was named after Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in a 2010 crash between his vehicle and a tractor-trailer in Monroe County when the distracted truck driver was reaching for their phone, according to the Shapiro administration.
Miller’s mother, Eileen, became an advocate for stronger distracted driving laws.
