A stricter version of California’s hands-free law goes into effect on July 1, 2025, making it illegal for drivers to hold or physically interact with their phones while behind the wheel. The new rules apply even when a phone is being used for navigation, music, or checking notifications. Unless the device is properly mounted and operated with minimal interaction, any handling of the phone while driving is now considered a violation of state law.
State transportation officials say the change is meant to reduce crashes caused by distracted driving, which continues to be a leading factor in roadway collisions. Drivers are expected to have their phones mounted before driving, with navigation and playlists set in advance. Those who need to use their phones must pull over to a safe location. The law prohibits any swiping, tapping, or manipulating of a phone while the vehicle is in motion, even briefly. Law enforcement will begin enforcing the updated law immediately. Violators risk citations and fines, even for momentary distractions.
But watching TikTok on your phone mounted to your dash or windshield is just fine?
Yum ramen sounds good right now. But not while driving.
What’s your best Ramen place? I used to love that one at the Veranda, miss it.
Ramen 101 in downtown concord is really good.
I make my own ramen. I use just regular pasta so it can range from vermicelli to linguine. The trick is to add a little baking soda to water when cooking. That makes the pasta springy like ramen.
Since having cellphones (1993), I don’t pickup calls while driving. It goes to voicemail. But then I don’t get many phone calls anyway because I mostly communicate via email.
Do you realize ramen has no food value and if you watch a utube video of what they mix up, pour out and make those “noodles’ with,you would never eat any type of ramen again?
You must be a vegan. How do you know someone is a vegan? Theyll tell you.
Ramen is for vegans,it has no food value and they will eat anything that isnt meat
The ramen noodles have carbs. Ever wonder why so many of those products are so spicy? Yang, it’s fiery and stimulates the eater. Of course many westerners just wind up getting heartburn. Ramen can be made nutritious like any other noodle soup.
More BS from the nanny state! Judging by the # of drivers totally ignoring present law, there will not be much of a change in compliance.
I’m actually glad you put out this article. I’ve actually become a little lax myself and I have picked up the phone to look at traffic maps on it while driving much more often. I wonder though, and I kind of wish they do a study but I think people hiding their cell phones down in their lap while using them is more dangerous than just holding it up to their ear
Right, so you can talk with a passenger but not on the phone held up to your ear? I feel it’s the conversation, not the holding of the phone, that’s causes a distraction. If it really was then why can I hold a big gulp my entire drive. Or pretty much anything I want other than a phone.
Or, just don’t use a cell phone when driving. If you don’t know in advance where you’re headed, find out. If you can’t wait to converse with someone until your car is parked perhaps you ought to rethink the privilege of driving.
What is the definition of “minimal interaction” and can it be argued?
Also curious about LE’s use of cell phones and/or screens in their vehicles, and how it may affect their driving, just as it would anyone else.
In California, the police and other first responders are allowed to use a hand held cell
phone while driving during the performance of official duties.
Roger that, Dawg. Their service is vital to our communities and more than appreciated.
Law enforcement are the reason this whole cell phone thing has gotten out of hand in the first place. They couldn’t be bothered with some careless driver yapping away on their cellphone!!
Circular reasoning
You can make all the laws in the world you want, but if there’s barely any cops to enforce it then whats the point. 3-8 cops actually on patrol per city at a time minus in the office or on a call makes your odds pretty good. If you actually get caught, then you should buy a lottery ticket. Haha.
2 different times, by 2 different officers, I was stopped in Clayton for eating a granola bar while driving. This was about 10 years ago. Both times the officer said they had thought it was a phone, but when they came to my window, they could see I had a granola bar in my hand and no phone in sight, and they didn’t write me up. I do think eating ramen while driving would be unsafe.
Moral of the story? Always carry a granola bar while driving.
Distracted driving is dangerous.
An oblivious guy driving a truck with a cell phone stuck to his ear blew right through a red light & nearly T-boned me !
Thank Goodness my lady passenger saw him and screamed.
I was looking left and did not see him coming.
So if I have apple car play or android auto on my head unit I can just plug my phone in and legally control it from there. Or get a full android head unit and have it all – Netflix, YouTube, texting, emails, etc. 100% legal. Also what about a dedicated gps? Those are still allowed but phone nav isn’t? California laws are funny.