HARRISBURG – Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40) is reminding motorists that beginning this Friday, June 5, Pennsylvania’s Paul Miller’s Law will be fully enforceable as the one-year warning period comes to an end.
Named in honor of Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in 2010 by a distracted driver, the law prohibits drivers from using a handheld mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. During the last year, law enforcement officers issued written warnings to educate drivers about the new requirements. Beginning Friday, violations will carry a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.
“Paul Miller’s Law was enacted to save lives and prevent families from experiencing the devastating consequences of distracted driving,” Brown said. “The educational period has given drivers time to adjust their habits. Now, with full enforcement beginning, I urge every Pennsylvanian to put their phone down, stay focused on the road and help make our highways safer for everyone.”
Act 18 of 2024 prohibits drivers from using a handheld interactive mobile device while driving, including while temporarily stopped in traffic or at a red light. Drivers may still use hands-free technology and exceptions exist for emergency situations. The measure was signed into law in 2024 and took effect June 5, 2025, with a one-year warning period before citations could be issued. Beginning June 5, 2026, violations will be punishable as a summary offense.
Brown, the prime sponsor of the legislation, worked alongside Eileen Miller and the Miller family for years to advance the measure through the General Assembly. The law was designed to close loopholes in Pennsylvania’s previous texting-while-driving ban and establish a comprehensive hands-free standard.
“Every driver has a responsibility to keep their attention on the road,” Brown said. “If this law prevents even one family from enduring the loss the Miller family has experienced, it will have made a meaningful difference.”
For more information about Paul Miller’s Law, motorists can visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s distracted driving resource page.