Missouri hands free driving law to be enforced starting Jan. 1
By KMAland via TN Content Exchange
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri motorists are reminded of a new hands-free driving law that will be enforceable starting later this week.
Signed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson in July 2023, the “Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law” will be enforceable starting on January 1st, 2025. Since its passage, the regulation has been in a 16-month grace period, allowing agencies such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol to educate the motoring public about the new regulation. Sergeant Shane Hux is the public information officer for the patrol’s northwest Missouri Troop H. Hux tells KMA News the law prohibits drivers from holding a cellular phone or wireless device in their hand while driving.
“What you can not use it for obviously is phone calls along with sending text messages, making videos, sending videos, things of that nature,” said Hux. “Basically anything that is recreational along with making a common phone call.”
Hux says the law instead requires drivers to use Bluetooth or another form of hands-free technology. As distracted driving is on the rise, Hux says over 100 people lose their lives on Missouri’s roadways every year in accidents involving distracted driving. Hux hopes the new regulation helps reduce accidents and ultimately save lives.
“We’re hoping for compliance — for people to know that there is a law out there and that it’s not a practice for drivers of motor vehicles to be distracted while they’re operating a vehicle,” Hux emphasized. “Driving is a full-time job–that’s what we’re trying to stress the importance of so that we can get compliance.”
Once penalties start, Hux says fines begin at $150 and can go up to $500 for repeat offenders or even criminal charges if distracted driving leads to an accident. But, he says there are still a few exceptions to the law.
“So, if you are traveling and you witness a motor vehicle crash or someone driving all over the road who you think is impaired, then it’s still lawful at that time to notify law enforcement — you can still call 911 or star-55 for the highway patrol while you’re operating a motor vehicle,” Hux explained. “Now, that’s going to be kind of a rare instance where you’d do that and you can also still use it for navigational purposes as well.”
Additionally, Hux notes the new regulation is not a primary law, meaning a driver can not be stopped for solely holding their phone while driving.
“Now, if you’re exceeding the speed limit and you’re on your device, then yes, you’d be stopped for exceeding the speed limit and then maybe issued a citation for the hands free law,” said Hux. “So, it’s not a primary law, meaning you can not be stopped solely for that reason.”
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, nearly 200,000 distracted driving-related crashes occurred in Missouri between 2012 and 2021 — resulting in at least 801 fatalities.
