The Toughest DUI Laws and DUI Penalties Ranked by State
Over time it has become a lot easier for drivers to get distracted while on the road. Because of
this, states have been implementing laws to reduce the risk of distracted driving related accidents.
We scored each state on 11 metrics related to their distracted driving accident statistics,
legislation, and penalties, to give us a ranking of the strictest and most lenient states when it
comes to distracted driving.
Distracted fatalities rate per 100k drivers
No. of distracted crash fatalities per 100k drivers weighted by
the number of drivers registered in that state.
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers
No. of distracted crash injuries per 100k drivers weighted by the
number of drivers registered in that state.
Hand-held ban
Law prohibiting use of handheld devices while driving.
Phone ban – School bus driver
Law prohibiting bus drivers from using a cellphone.
Phone ban – Novice drivers
Law prohibiting drivers <18 from using a cellphone while
driving.
Overall texting ban
Law prohibiting texting while driving.
Texting ban – School bus
Law prohibiting bus drivers from texting while driving.
Texting ban – Novices
Law prohibiting drivers <18 from texting while driving.
Minimum fine, $
Minimum fines for offenses.
Higher fine for repeat offence
Minimum fines for repeated offense.
Further penalties
Loss of license, or jail time.
Overall score/100
Rhode Island
84.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 7.6
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.5
Further penalties: None
Maine
82.2
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 118.7
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 150
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.5
Further penalties: None
Connecticut
80.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.3
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 127.9
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 150
Higher fine for repeat offence: 3.3
Further penalties: None
Vermont
80.1
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 50.2
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 125
Higher fine for repeat offence: 3
Further penalties: None
Illinois
74.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 118.1
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <19
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 75
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1.7
Further penalties: None
California
74.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 153.1
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 162
Higher fine for repeat offence: 0.7
Further penalties: None
Massachusetts
73.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 119
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 5
Further penalties: None
Nevada
73.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.5
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 28.3
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 50
Higher fine for repeat offence: 5
Further penalties: None
Georgia
73.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 51.6
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 50
Higher fine for repeat offence: 3
Further penalties: None
Minnesota
73.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 122.3
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 50
Higher fine for repeat offence: 5.5
Further penalties: None
West Virginia
72.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 18.2
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 3
Further penalties: None
New Jersey
71.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 144.4
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 300
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.7
Further penalties: None
Washington D.C.
71.1
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 210.3
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Maryland
70.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 7.4
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 75
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.3
Further penalties: None
Washington
68.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 74.2
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 136
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1.7
Further penalties: None
Tennessee
68.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 131.6
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 50
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
New Hampshire
68.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 100.9
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Delaware
68.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 154.4
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 3
Further penalties: None
Arkansas
65.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 167
Hand-held ban: Learner
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 250
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Hawaii
64.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 2.5
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 64.6
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 250
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Oregon
62.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 214.2
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 260
Higher fine for repeat offence: 7.7
Further penalties: None
Ohio
60.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 33.3
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 150
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
New York
59.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 207
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 125
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Virginia
57.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 106.2
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 125
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Louisiana
57.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 3.1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 190.1
Hand-held ban: Learner
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 500
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Michigan
57.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 117
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Utah
55.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 180.9
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 750
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: Jail time
Nebraska
54.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 188
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 200
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.5
Further penalties: None
New Mexico
53.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 8.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 136.9
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 25
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Florida
52.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 250.9
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Yes
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 30
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Wyoming
52.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 85.7
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 75
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
South Dakota
51.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 122.4
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: Misdemeanour
Colorado
51.5
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 12.4
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 50
Higher fine for repeat offence: 4
Further penalties: None
Mississippi
51.2
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 202.6
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Iowa
50.5
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 99.9
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 30
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
North Dakota
49.1
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 111.3
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Kentucky
46.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 81
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 25
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2
Further penalties: None
Alaska
46.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 6.8
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 0
Higher fine for repeat offence: 0
Further penalties: Misdemeanour
Wisconsin
45.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 140.4
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 30
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.5
Further penalties: None
Kansas
45.2
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 4.5
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 91.4
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: Learner
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 60
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Arizona
45.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 103.5
Hand-held ban: Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: No
Texting ban – School bus: No
Texting ban – Novices: No
Minimum fine, $: 112
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1.8
Further penalties: None
Pennsylvania
44.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 134.2
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 50
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Indiana
43.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 155.1
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <21
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 0
Higher fine for repeat offence: 0
Further penalties: None
North Carolina
42.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 250.9
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 100
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Idaho
41.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 109.1
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 85
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Oklahoma
40.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 132.5
Hand-held ban: Learner
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: no minimum stated
Higher fine for repeat offence: 0
Further penalties: Loss of license
Alabama
38.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 180
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 25
Higher fine for repeat offence: 3
Further penalties: None
South Carolina
33.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 152.4
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: Yes
Texting ban – School bus: Covered
Texting ban – Novices: Covered
Minimum fine, $: 25
Higher fine for repeat offence: 1
Further penalties: None
Montana
23.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 49.1
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: No
Texting ban – School bus: No
Texting ban – Novices: No
Minimum fine, $: 0
Higher fine for repeat offence: 0
Further penalties: None
Texas
18.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 229.6
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: Yes if pass <17
Phone ban – Novice drivers: <18
Overall texting ban: No
Texting ban – School bus: Yes if pass <17
Texting ban – Novices: <18
Minimum fine, $: 62
Higher fine for repeat offence: 2.4
Further penalties: None
Missouri
8.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers: 1.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers: 167.6
Hand-held ban: No
Phone ban – School bus driver: No
Phone ban – Novice drivers: No
Overall texting ban: No
Texting ban – School bus: No
Texting ban – Novices: <21
Minimum fine, $: 0
Higher fine for repeat offence: 0
Further penalties: None