New California Cell Phone Law 2020

A new California cell phone law was passed on January 1, 2020 that will create harsher punishments for those who decide to use their phone while driving. Like with every upcoming year, you have new laws on the books that you want to understand to avoid getting a ticket altogether. Let’s have a look at this new distracted driving law.

Distracted Driving: No More!

Distracted driving has always posed a danger on California highways, and the problem becomes worse because of how we don’t have enough enforcement of these laws. Based on a new law passed in 2019, California drivers could even face having one point on their record as a result of distracted driving with cell phones.

In the past, if they convicted you of using a cell phone while driving, a conviction never led to a point on your driving record. That will change soon. For those found guilty of driving with a cell phone, they will receive a point on their driving record if they were previously convicted of the same thing within the last 36 months. This new law will go into effect on July 1, 2021, but they have already put it on the books. The AAA and CHP both sponsored this law.

Laws Already on the Books

California already had previous laws on the books that had made it illegal to talk on the cell phone. However, what they have done with the passing of the new law is they have made it even more serious to drive while distracted. California drivers were already prohibited from using cell phones and handheld devices. Meanwhile, drivers under 18 weren’t even allowed to drive with hands-free cell phones.

The Sunshine State’s laws follow a growing nationwide trend of stricter laws surrounding distracted driving. The laws have come as a result of concerns for safety. Many people have been injured because of another driver that was texting while driving.

What to Understand About the Laws

While California has some new laws on the books, they won’t ban passengers from using their cell phones. You still have freedom to use your cell phone as a passenger. Keep in mind, this law will apply to all people whether they live in California or not. You could still receive a ticket. If you have received a ticket, you may want to use Ticket Bust to try to have the ticket dismissed. It will keep the points off your driving record.

The Fines and Points

One thing that people have to realize about the new California cell phone laws of 2020 is that it will have a harsher effect than with previous laws. For a first-time offender, they will have a $20 fine. For the followup offenses, it will cost you $50. One thing that you have to remember about this, however, is that you will most likely pay much more than this. The first fine will most likely be over $150. For any following fines, you will most likely pay $250.

As of right now, cell phone tickets don’t cost anything against one’s driving record. California uses a point system for moving violations. While a single ticket may not cause too much for problems, multiple tickets will cause your insurance to rise by as much as 12 to 15 percent with each follow-up ticket. Not to mention, you could have your driver’s license revoked or suspended as a result of getting too many points on your driving record. The points on your driving record law won’t go on the books until July 1, 2021. The first ticket won’t count as points on your record, but if you get more than one of these tickets within 36 months of each other, you will have a point added to your record.

How Does the Hands-Free Cell Phone Law in California Work?

Looking at this new California cell phone law, the rules for hands-free will depend on the age of the driver. For example, you can’t use hands-free cell phones at all if you’re under the age of 18 because of how these drivers have the least experience. Drivers over the age of 18 will be allowed to use hands-free devices for communicating on the cell phone. Hands-free refers to Bluetooth or another ear-piece that goes over the ear while driving. You might also make use out of a speaker phone to help with the functioning.

For drivers under the age of 18, they will suffer the same consequences of a violation as if they got the regular violation. Because this classifies as a secondary violation, police officers can’t pull you over for this alone even as a driver under 18, but if they have reason to pull you over, you could be fined for it.

Texting While Driving: Still Illegal

Texting while driving remains illegal because of how it has led to countless accidents. You only have a few exceptions for this rule, such as emergency services professionals who are using an emergency vehicle, using manufacturing installed systems embedded in the vehicle and turning the GPS on or off. The fine remains the same as if someone were found talking on their phone while driving. Driving while texting has been banned because of how it has led to countless accidents on the road.

If you were given a ticket for this, you may want to use TicketBust to help you get out of the ticket. This ticket dismissal service has proven one of the best ways to keep your driving record clean. Especially if you work in a driving profession, getting a ticket can have a largely negative impact on your ability to earn. You don’t have to go to court, you don’t have to do paperwork and you don’t have to wait. This ticket dismissal service has developed a process that will help you fight your ticket and maintain a good driving record.