75 Pa.C.S. § 1621 Texting While Driving

• Library: Pennsylvania Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.A. Acts 2023-66
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 75 Pa.C.S. § 1621

(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided under subsection (c), a driver may not engage in texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle.

(b) Employer.--Except as provided under subsection (c), an employer may not permit or require a driver of the employer to engage in texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle.

(c) Emergency use exception.--Texting while driving shall be permissible by a driver of a commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle if necessary to communicate with a law enforcement official or other emergency service.

(d) Penalties.--

(1) A person who violates subsection (a) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100.

(2) A person who violates subsection (b) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $500.

(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:

"Driving." Operating a commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle on a highway, with the motor running, including while the commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device or other momentary delay. The term does not include operating a commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier vehicle with or without the motor running if the driver moved thevehicle to the side of or off of a highway and halted in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.