THIS LIST IS DRAMATICALLY OUT OF DATE; as of April 18, 2019 there are said to be twenty seven local laws(!) on the subject. On that date, the Arizona legislature finally passed a general purpose “handheld ban”.
Although the state of Arizona has no specific restrictions on operating a cell phone while driving, several cities and counties have enacted various restrictions on use of cell phones on drivers:
| City or County |
Year |
Type of restriction |
more info |
| Phoenix |
2007 |
Text Ban |
more info |
| Tucson |
2012 |
Text Ban |
more info |
| Coconino |
2014 |
Text and Talk (handheld) ban |
more info |
| Flagstaff |
2014 |
Text Ban |
more info |
| Tempe |
2015 |
drivers may not “hold” any mobile electronic device “if such driving constitutes a risk to that person or others”. |
more info |
| Pima |
2016 |
Text and Talk (handheld) ban |
more info |
| Oro Valley |
2017 |
Text and Talk (handheld) ban |
more info |
| Clifton |
2017 |
Text and Talk (handheld) ban |
more info |
| Yavapai |
2018 |
handheld ban |
news item ,
Ord 2018-2 |
| Surprise |
2018 |
handheld ban |
news item |
| Glendale |
2019 |
handheld ban. |
news item |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
(google docs table)
School bus drivers
School bus drivers in Arizona are prohibited altogether from using cell phones and related device when operating the bus, via an Arizona Administrative Code:
AAC R13-13-104(D)(28) Except as provided in subsection (D)(27), a school bus driver shall not use audio headsets, earphones, earplugs, Bluetooth devices, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, or other interactive wireless devices, whether or not hands-free, when the school bus is in operation.
Interstate Truck and Bus Drivers
Additionally, The US Department of Transportation issued a final rule in 2011 banning the use of hand-held cell phones by interstate truck and bus drivers while the vehicles are in operation.
Statewide Legislation, 53rd 1st Regular Session
The following bills have been introduced in the Spring 2017 (53rd 1st Regular) Session, courtesy of Look! Save a Life / Arizona:
***Sponsored Bills Prohibiting Texting/Driving & Protecting Vulnerable Road Users***
Sponsor: Senator Karen Fann
SB 1080 – teenage drivers; communication devices prohibited
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68707…
Bans cell phone use while driving for novice drivers in the first six months of their license. This is the only bill on the topic being pushed by AAA.
Easily passed Senate. Being held as of mid-April in House by Rules committee chairman Lovas, see comment below for update.
I’m concerned that this is worse than nothing. In effect, it says to new teen drivers (and everyone else!) that once they turn 16-1/2, driving while texting is A-OK. I can just imagine snapchat-while-driving parties to celebrate a 16-1/2 birthday, much like what happens with drinking on a 21st birthday. In this form, I would have to be opposed. Can only work in tandem with a statewide ban like 1087 or 1135 in place simultaneously.
Sponsor: Senator John Kavanagh
SB 1049 – text messaging while driving; prohibition
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68522…
A statewide texting ban, but does not ban reading facebook, snapchat, texts, emails, or anything else on your smartphone while driving. Also does not ban inputting visual messages. Would not have stopped Officer Huffman from being killed. Reading is as dangerous as writing in studies. This needs to be amended to ban reading as well.
Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1135- Handheld communications devices; driving; prohibition
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68884…
Statewide hands-free only law, like the law recently enacted in Oro Valley, AZ; current law in 18 states.
Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1086 – Sentencing; aggravating factor; texting
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68719…
Just like if you use a gun in the commission of a crime, you get more jail time, this allows judges to add jail time for the use of a cellphone while driving in the injury or death caused by a vehicle crash.
Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1087 – Wireless communication device; driving; prohibition
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68720…
Statewide ban on the use of a handheld device to read or write a written or visual message while driving.
Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1088 – Vehicles; collisions; injury; texting; penalty
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68721…
Allows judges to suspend a driver license if the driver has killed or injured someone while using a cellphone and driving.
Sponsor: Senator Steve Farley
SB 1085 – Vulnerable users of public ways
https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/68718…
Protects bicyclists, pedestrians, construction workers, first responders, and disabled people who are adjacent to or using a roadway from vehicular assault in a number of ways; establishes that throwing objects at vulnerable users or forcing them off the road are crimes.
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Here is the link to both the House (60 Members) and the Senate (30 Members). It lists each elected officials email prefix and then add “@azleg.gov” but it shows everyone in each Chamber for the 2017 Legislative Session.
New list for the Senate:
http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=S
New list for the House:
http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster/?body=H
How to find your district:
http://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/
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After over a decade of waiting, Arizona will become one of the last US states to place general restrictions on handheld cell phone use. Yesterday the Arizona legislature passed HB2318 and Governor Ducey is expected to sign the bill which would require electronic gadgety to be operated hands-free only; with certain exceptions. Credit must be given to the victims and families of victims who have pursued these laws year-after-year; as well as to former state Senator Steve Farley, as well as Brendan Lyons, a victim and also founder of Look Save a Life , and anti-distraction advocacy organization.
