Florida bill attempts to toughen rules against drivers holding cellphones in their lap

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Just days ahead of the Florida’s legislative session, there’s a new push to toughen the state’s rules when it comes to cellphones behind the wheel.

Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, re-filed a bill that would make it illegal for drivers to hold their phones while on the road or even have them resting in their laps.

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Under the proposal, a first violation brings a $150 fine. A second offense jumps to $250. A third violation would trigger a 90-day license suspension and a $500 fine.

A similar bill was filed last year and while it passed in the House, it never came up for a vote in the state Senate.

Florida law currently states that a driver cannot use a “wireless device in a handheld manner” in a school or active construction zone.

The Sunshine State also has a law making texting while driving a primary offense, which means an officer can pull over the driver and issue a citation. News 6 and a team of advocates spent nearly three years to lead the charge to make this a law. It was officially signed in 2019.