• Many states have already banned cell phone use while driving.Young businessman talking by cell phone. image by wrangler from Fotolia.com
  
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that cell phone use while driving constitutes the number one distraction for motorists while driving, and has resulted in many preventable deaths and accidents. As a result, many states, including New York and New Jersey, have banned drivers from using cell phones. Pennsylvania currently mandates that police investigating an accident determine whether or not a motorist was using a cellular phone when the accident occurred.
  
  

Statewide

• As of March 2010, Pennsylvania lacks any statewide ban against or regulation of cell phone use while driving. However, members in both the State House and Senate have proposed bills passed by each legislative body, but which have not been passed by both legislatures or signed into law by the Governor. In January 2010, the House passed a law that would ban talking or texting while driving and levy a $50 fine on offenders (the bill would exempt hands-free units). This bill joined several others being debated (as of March 2010) in both houses that would either ban cell phone use entirely (exempting hands-free units), ban texting only, or prohibit drivers under 20 from any cellular use (including hands-free use).
  
  

Harrisburg

• While the state legislature has not yet decided on whether or not to institute a cell phone ban, the City Council of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital, passed a ban in December 2009. Motorists caught talking or texting while driving can receive a $100 fine for the first offense, $250 if caught a second time, a $500 fine for the third violation, and can be charged $1000 for the fourth offense or more. The law exempts hands-free units, but imposes double the amount of the fine (not to exceed $1000) if a motorist violates the ban in a school or construction zone.
  
  

Philadelphia

• In December 2009, Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter signed into law a cell phone ban passed by the Philadelphia City Council. This law restricts motorists driving within the city limits from talking on or texting with their cell phones. The law currently exempts hands-free units. Drivers caught in violation can receive a $75 fine.
  
  

Cities, Townships and Municipalities

• Several Pennsylvania townships and municipalities have preempted the state by passing their own ordinances against driving while using a cell phone. In March 2010, Eastern Pennsylvania Township, which includes the city of Allentown, passed a ban on cell phone use while driving. Additionally, Erie Township, the municipalities of Conshohocken and West Conshohocken (Philadelphia suburbs), and Hilltown Township have joined the cities of York and Lebanon in instituting their own local ordinances banning cell phone use and texting while driving. All of these ordinances exempt drivers using hands-free cell phone devices.